Training missions against decoy tactics are designed to teach the student what decoy tactics are and what they look like in the air and how to successfully engage the offensive or shooter bandit(s). All decoy tactics have several common factors:
1.) They normally start out as a single group.
2.) At prescribed ranges, the group breaks into 2 distinct groups separated by X miles.
3.) At X miles, the 1st group will perform or demonstrate some type of beam or drag maneuver in an attempt to hold your attention while the trail group (shooter) attempts to engage unseen or at lest fire the first BVR missile (see figure 4).
The classic mistake made by students is to focus all their attention on the closest group and to lose track of any trail group. Through good SA and radar work, however, all groups can be successfully engaged/destroyed or driven from the area.
