In movies and video games, fighter jets and other similar vehicles need to chase their opponent and have them in target long enough to get a lock on, but why can’t they just be in range if radar works in all directions? Do they need to chase opponents like this in real life?

Question

In movies and video games, fighter jets and other similar vehicles need to chase their opponent and have them in target long enough to get a lock on, but why can’t they just be in range if radar works in all directions? Do they need to chase opponents like this in real life?

In: Technology

Answer 1

In reality, current advanced air superiority fighters fire missiles from miles away before you can even see a target visually. It just wouldn’t make for very good entertainment.