A system, apparatus and method for optimizing the conduct of a close-in air combat are disclosed. A computing device is operative in the analysis of a close-in air combat situation. The computing device stores and utilizes one or more aerial aircraft-specific, weapon systems-specific and close-in air combat-situation-specific information. The computing device is operative in the analysis of the current air combat situation (12) and in the generation of a flight control recommendation (40). Consequently, the recommendation is converted into an indication having visual or audio format to be communicated to the operating crew of the aerial vehicle. The recommendation could further to be converted into specific flight control/energy commands and to be introduced directly to the control systems of the aircraft.