Counter-maneuver

Counter-maneuvers are a gameplay featured introduced in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. In their simplest nature, they are air combat maneuvers used to evade pursuers in Close Range Assault.

Overview
When a hostile pilot pursues the player in Dog Fight Mode (DFM), a red arrow and a green arrow will appear in the center of the screen, which will approach each other as the player slows down. If the aircraft flies slow enough and is level, both arrows will overlap and be replaced with a spinning arrow. Simultaneously pressing the shoulder buttons while this icon is on-screen will result in the player performing a unique combat maneuver, thus placing them behind their chaser. The maneuver depicted depens on the direction the control stick is moved: sideways results in a barrel roll, up results in a Kulbit turn and down results in a Pugachev's cobra. Counter-maneuvers have an invisible "cooldown" period, which increases with their continuous use.

Helicopters also employ counter-maneuvers. When a rocket or missile is fired at the player, pressing the shoulder buttons as a green arrow appears on-screen will result in the aircraft pulling an evasive barrel roll.

Counter-counter-maneuver
Enemy aircraft pursued in DFM are also able of performing counter-maneuvers. When an enemy counter-maneuvers to escape the player, a red arrow will appear in the center of the screen. Pressing the CRA shoulder buttons while this icon is displayed will trigger a short slow-motion moment. Firing the machine gun during this sene will deal heavy damage to the target.