The outer air battle seeks missile-carrying aircraft before they launch. A bomber with a nominal 600 km missile need not fire at maximum range, since a shorter shot leaves more margin for the final approach. The example places the preferred launch region around 450 to 500 km and sketches a fighter patrol roughly 650 km from the carrier. A single carrier would struggle to sustain that distant patrol. Multiple carriers in Strike Fleet Atlantic provide more fighters for distant interception and protection over the group. French Crusaders provide the closer patrol in this arrangement, freeing Tomcats to range farther out.
Notable Point · 2:43:23-2:46:24
Tomcat patrol distance and Strike Fleet Atlantic
Sustaining fighters hundreds of kilometres from a carrier requires enough aircraft for distant interception and protection over the fleet.