Aimed at the problem of modern air combat maneuver decision-making, an air combat maneuver decision-making method based on improved symbiotic organisms search (SOS) algorithm is proposed. Firstly, the shortcomings of the traditional basic maneuver inventory are analyzed, improved and expanded, and 11 kinds of common basic maneuver are designed. Secondly, considering the angle, distance, speed, altitude and the performance advantages of fighter planes, the decision-making advantage function of fighter planes is constructed. Finally, aimed at the shortcomings of the traditional SOS algorithm in convergence speed, convergence accuracy and local optimality, the roulette wheel selection method, dynamic variation rate and gradient idea are introduced into the traditional algorithm, and the effectiveness and performance of the algorithm are simulated and analyzed. The simulation results show that the improved SOS algorithm has more advantages in convergence speed, convergence accuracy and jump out of local optimum, and can meet the air combat maneuver decision-making requirements.