ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Air combat maneuvering

Air combat maneuvering, or ACM, is like playing a game of chase in the sky between fighter planes. The pilots try to outsmart and outmaneuver each other to gain an advantage and ultimately “shoot down” the other’s plane.

Pilots use different tactics to try and gain the advantage. They might try to sneak up behind the other plane and surprise it, or they might try to make the other pilot think they’re going one way and then suddenly turn a different direction. Sometimes the pilot will make the other plane chase it, only to lead it into a trap and attack it from above or behind.

The pilots also have to pay attention to their speed, altitude, and position, because these things can give them an advantage or disadvantage in the chase. It’s like a race where the pilots have to be smart and strategic to stay ahead of the other plane.

Overall, air combat maneuvering is like a high-stakes game of tag in the sky, where the pilots use their brains and their planes to try and out-fly each other and win the game.
Related topics others have asked about: