An air force is a military branch of service primarily concerned with aerial warfare, distinct from army aviation or naval aviation units within a nation’s armed forces.
Air forces are responsible for gaining control of the air, carrying out strategic and tactical bombing missions, and providing support to land and naval forces through aerial reconnaissance and close air support. They typically operate a combination of fighters, bombers, helicopters, transport planes and other aircraft. Many air forces also command air defence assets such as anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles, while some oversee military space operations and intercontinental ballistic missiles. During peacetime, air forces conduct air policing and air-sea rescue operations. Beyond pilots, air forces depend on extensive support personnel across logistics, security, intelligence, special operations, cyber space support, maintenance and weapons loading, among many other specialties required to sustain aerial operations.
