How do I stop the bombing attacks

[rookie7]

My defense units (tanks, armored units, etc.) keep being bombed by fighters. The thing is, I can't see the bombing while it's taking place. All I heard was the noise and the red message saying my units were attacked by enemy fighter. By the time my units reached the city that I'm planning to attack, their health got reduced to more than half...which stand no chance against the units protecting the cities...even though my units are a lot stronger when 100% healthy.

How do I protect my units? Can you have a fighter following your unit around and intercepting air strikes like you would in a city?

Thanks in advance.

 

[CharleyS]

Perhaps a few SAM Infantry in your stacks?

 

[Proteus]

If your unit moves near the coast you can send a carrier with fighters/jetfighters on CAP.
They protect units at a certain distance from where they are stationed (2 tiles if I remember correctly), therefore you might protect them this way if you keep your troops at no more than 2 tiles away from the carrier.
Another option, if you have the necessary tech, is, to always have a couple of SAM infantry with your troops, they´re good at intercepting enemy fighters (mechanized infantry can do it, too, but they´re not as good as SAM infantry for this purpose (i.e. lower probability to intercept enemy fighters/bombers)

IMHO, if you cannot build SAM infantry yet, you should makle it you priority to get it (it´s Rocketry AFAIK).

 

[Sisiutil]

Just remember that each SAM unit gets only one "kick at the can" per turn--that is, they defend against one attack per turn, IIRC. So unlike using a single Spear to defend an early stack against more than one mounted unit attack, you may need several SAM Infantry in your stack depending on how many air attacks the stack is enduring each turn.

 

[ArmoredCavalry]

More then half? I thought the limit was 50%. Anyway, Try using bombers of your own to "even" the odds.

 

[uberfish]

Put some fighters on patrol in a city or carrier near the action. They will intercept up to their range away from their base.