Is modern air combat still a close dogfight?

Is modern air combat still like the close dogfighting shown in Top Gun?

Usually not. The 1960s and 1970s retained overlap between guns and missiles, but modern fighters aim to detect and engage opponents at long range before a close dogfight develops.

The answer distinguishes a transitional era from present-day air combat. During the 1960s and 1970s, missile engagements still overlapped with gun fighting, but close dogfights became less common through the 1980s. A modern fighter retains a cannon because unusual close-range situations can occur and because guns may be economical against drones or balloons. Against another high-end aircraft, however, the safer objective is to detect, launch, and defeat the opponent at missile range. The exchange explains why cinematic maneuver combat is a poor default model for a carrier air group's air-defense planning.