Beyond Visual Range combat ( BVR ) is a kind of aerial warfare which is fought at a range the pilot can´t see his enemy with his own eyes, what means that he must track him using it's radar or ther long-range detection systems. The engagement is called Visual Range combat ( WVR ), if the two aircraft are fighting at a distance closer than 18.5 km.
BVR tactics[]
Beyond Visual Range tactics could be called intercepting tactics, while the pilot tries in an interception to get behind the enemy airplane at an increased range. Some aircraft, like early versions of the MiG-29 Fulcrum, were not able to fight in Beyond Visual Range, what means that they will shoot at the enemy later ( sometimes too late ).
Very important in Beyond Visual Range combat is "First look, First shot, First kill" advantage, primarly achieved by the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and at a lower grade by the upcoming F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the F-22 is this strong in BVR combat because of unsurpassed avionic and stealth capabilities.
The Russian Sukhoi PAK-FA and the Chinese Chengdu J-20 Black Eagle are expected to be very powerful in BVR combat as well, but the F-22 is more powerful, because of superior stealth performance and a more advanced long range radar and better avionics.