Should an interceptor attack the Intruder or its Tomcat escort?

Should a MiG-31 finding an Intruder strike package attack the bombers or the F-14 escorts?

The tactical answer favors the Intruders. The possibility that pilots would chase Tomcats for prestige is disputed speculation.

Finding the strike package still leaves an interceptor pilot with a target-selection problem. The operational answer favors attacking the Intruder, which carries the strike, rather than seeking the prestige of a Tomcat kill. Alex Clarke speculates that some pilots would be distracted by the escort. Another participant stresses pilot professionalism, and the discussion acknowledges that Soviet pilots could be professional. The suggested distraction remains speculation about behavior rather than a reliable way to protect the bombers.