How to make an effective air force?

[Infantry#14]

Can anyone give a detail explanation/mechanics on how air combat work in BTS? I only have a rough idea on how it worked in vanilla and warlord and I didnt use them much.

In the road to war scenario, for some reason most of my fighters get shot down when trying striking the enemy, while my enemy's fighter only get intercepted and never get shot down. I play as USA, and I have the same level of fighters with Germany. Does strength matters, interception chance, or just me unlucky?

 

[Infantry#14]

so how do the experts in this forum utilize air force?

 

[Infantry#14]

Ok, I try out a fighter test.

Test 1
Both Ai and I have 104 unpromoted Fighters. He put all on intercept mode and I strike him. 53 of my fighters got shot down, while 51 made through and shot down the Ai's fighters. Of the 51 that survived, 27 were injured 50% and 24 were unscratched.
My opponent lost 51 fighters and 53 remained. Of the 53 that survived, 25 were injured 50% and 28 were unscratched.

My invading fighters:
Probability: 53/104 = 51% shot down, 27/104 = 26% survived and suffered 50% damage, 24/104 = 23% survived at full health.

Ai’s defending interceptors:
Probability: 51/104 = 49% shot down, 25/104 = 24% survived and suffered 50% damage, 28/104 = 27% survived at full health.

Conclusion: In BTS, invading fighters and defending fighters have equal chance, because they have equal strength. In warlord and vanilla, I think it was that interceptors always have the edge against invaders. Also, a full health fighter striking an injured (50%) interceptor seems to always win. Finally, injured interceptors will sometime not intercept (perhaps the unit’s strength influences the interception chance)

Test 2

The AI defends with 104 unpromoted Fighters and I have 104 unpromoted Jet Fighters. I lost 22 jet fighters, and 82 survived. Of those 82, 35 were injured 50%, and 47 were at full health. The Ai lost 82 fighters, and 22 remained. Of those 22, 10 were injured 50% and 12 were at full health.

My invading fighters:
Probability: 22/104 = 21% shot down, 35/104 = 34% survived and suffered 50% damage, 47/104 = 45% survived at full health.

Ai’s defending interceptors:
Probability: 82/104 = 79% shot down, 10/104 = 9.5% survived and suffered 50% damage, 12/104 = 10.5% survived at full health.

Conclusion: Even though Jet Fighters have twice the strength then Fighters, you should expect to lose at least 20% of air units when striking enemy interceptors. It is strange to that in all these air combats, one side will always lose a fighter.