Question: The AI and Airstrikes - Tanks vs. Points

[Suhiir]

Air strikes are semi-random.

Air strikes come in two "flavors".
"Air Strikes" that tend to favor vehicle targets.
"COIN Strikes" that tend to favor infantry targets.

If the plotting unit (player or AI) has a clear line-of-sight to the target hex and there is an enemy unit in that hex there is a fairly good chance it will be attacked.
If there is no clear line-of-sight (for instance an airstrike is plotted on a "smoke puff" you know is enemy artillery/mortars) the aircraft will use it's "vision" rating as it approaches the target hex and attack the first unit it spots.

Airstrikes treat AA units as priority targets (but they may still decide to attack another nearby unit instead).
Airstrikes tend to treat Fortifications as priority targets second to AA units.

Does this answer your question?

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Air strikes are semi-random.

Air strikes come in two "flavors".
"Air Strikes" that tend to favor vehicle targets.
"COIN Strikes" that tend to favor infantry targets.

Suhiir is correct as usual, his description of the two flavors of strike aircraft is spot on. I would add SEAD, level bombers, and attack helicopters too.

Searching, visibility, and plotting are important elements to consider, but do not forget to check your load outs before assigning a strike. If you send a fighter bomber to attack tanks, but his stores of Mavericks is zero, he may not strike the tanks but opt to attack a nearby truck or dismounted infantry, or fly off without attacking anything.

I sent a section of AV-8B's on a strike with stores of cluster munitions and a 20mm cannon. The Harriers attacked with the 20mm cannon, no effect on the infantry. So, on the next sortie, I disabled the cannon and the Harriers dropped their cluster munitions. Lesson, check the primary weapon against the target.

Download the game manual pdf version here and search "air strike."

Have fun

[Miketee10022]

Thanks Suhir. This was somewhat helpful. But the essence of my question is: if the AI is faced with two vehicles - not AA, but rather a lower value tank, and a higher value transport (a heli or fancy truck ) - both of which are in the open - will it automatically choose the tank. Is the AI pre-programmed to prefer tanks over other (non-AA) vehicles, regardless of point values. I did not see anything in the rules specifically addressing this.

Again, my thanks!

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Air strikes are semi-random.

Air strikes come in two "flavors".
"Air Strikes" that tend to favor vehicle targets.
"COIN Strikes" that tend to favor infantry targets.

If the plotting unit (player or AI) has a clear line-of-sight to the target hex and there is an enemy unit in that hex there is a fairly good chance it will be attacked.
If there is no clear line-of-sight (for instance an airstrike is plotted on a "smoke puff" you know is enemy artillery/mortars) the aircraft will use it's "vision" rating as it approaches the target hex and attack the first unit it spots.

Airstrikes treat AA units as priority targets (but they may still decide to attack another nearby unit instead).
Airstrikes tend to treat Fortifications as priority targets second to AA units.

Does this answer your question?