A method for controlling a sensor in a combat aircraft comprising the steps of: a) determining direction and size of a defence zone around the combat aircraft based on a plurality of characteristic parameters of an enemy combat aircraft , wherein the plurality of characteristic parameters of the enemy combat aircraft comprises type, sensor capacity, speed, position and/or environmental conditions, wherein the diameter of the defence zone is set on the basis of the range and degree of danger of the enemy combat aircraft and wherein the capacity of the own combat aircraft is taken into account when the diameter is set, wherein an enemy combat aircraft inside the defence zone triggers an alert, and wherein the defence zone comprises a cylindrical shape and varies in time domain taking into account speed and heading of the combat aircraft and of the enemy combat aircraft ; b) determining direction and size of at least one offence zone around the combat aircraft based on the plurality of characteristic parameters of the enemy combat aircraft , wherein the offence zone is set on the basis of a set search area of an enemy combat aircraft , wherein the set search area corresponds to the volume of interest of the enemy combat aircraft , wherein the offence zone comprises an angular sector originating from the combat aircraft and indicating a range of bearing from the combat aircraft ; and c) controlling the sensor in the combat aircraft according to emission level and detection capacity within at least one of the defence zone and the at least one offence zone, and switching the sensor between the defence zone and the at least one offence zone when a predefined probabilistic value is exceeded comprising at least one predefined criterion of the following predefined criterions: a predefined attitude limit, a predefined speed limit, a detection criterion, an identification criterion and a behaviour criterion of an enemy combat aircraft . a) determining direction and size of a defence zone around the combat aircraft based on a plurality of characteristic parameters of an enemy combat aircraft , wherein the plurality of characteristic parameters of the enemy combat aircraft comprises type, sensor capacity, speed, position and/or environmental conditions, wherein the diameter of the defence zone is set on the basis of the range and degree of danger of the enemy combat aircraft and wherein the capacity of the own combat aircraft is taken into account when the diameter is set, wherein an enemy combat aircraft inside the defence zone triggers an alert, and wherein the defence zone comprises a cylindrical shape and varies in time domain taking into account speed and heading of the combat aircraft and of the enemy combat aircraft ; b) determining direction and size of at least one offence zone around the combat aircraft based on the plurality of characteristic parameters of the enemy combat aircraft , wherein the offence zone is set on the basis of a set search area of an enemy combat aircraft , wherein the set search area corresponds to the volume of interest of the enemy combat aircraft , wherein the offence zone comprises an angular sector originating from the combat aircraft and indicating a range of bearing from the combat aircraft ; and c) controlling the sensor in the combat aircraft according to emission level and detection capacity within at least one of the defence zone and the at least one offence zone, and switching the sensor between the defence zone and the at least one offence zone when a predefined probabilistic value is exceeded comprising at least one predefined criterion of the following predefined criterions: a predefined attitude limit, a predefined speed limit, a detection criterion, an identification criterion and a behaviour criterion of an enemy combat aircraft . <EOS>