Uses of height (or altitude)

[delta22]

If you are looking for an enemy using visual or IR flying to high can make it hard to find the enemy. If you are looking using a radar and you know that the enemy is stealthy but only has a short range AA flying high makes it harder to shoot you.

Actually, does anyone know what the optimal altitude is for spotting surface ships? I've had a few instances where I've had my aircraft radar turned on and still a ship manages to remain undetected until my plane was almost on top of it. Just earlier I was scouring the sea with 4 aircraft for a lone Skjold, all with active sensors on, and it wasn't until my aerial refueling tanker flew right over it that I managed to detect it.

[JanH]

The Skjold is a stealthy ship, so you have to get really close to see it. It depends a lot on the radar resolution, too, but most often I see it on IR or even Visual. Ironically, it's easier to hear (sonar) than see.