Air Force

Air Force
1. the U.S. department consisting of practically all military aviation forces, established July 26, 1947.
2. (l.c.) a similar department in any military organization.
3. (l.c.) (formerly) the largest unit in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
4. (l.c.) a unit of U.S. Air Force command between an air division and an air command.
5. (sometimes l.c.) the military unit of a nation charged with carrying out military operations in the air.
6. Brit. Royal Air Force.
[1915-1920]

* * *

Military organization that has the primary responsibility for conducting air warfare.

The air force must gain control of the air, support ground forces (e.g., by attacking enemy ground forces), and accomplish strategic-bombing objectives. Its basic weapons platforms are fighters, bombers, attack aircraft, and early warning and control aircraft. Since the mid-20th century, some air forces have also been responsible for land-based nuclear missiles as well as nuclear-armed bombers. The army and naval branches of a state's armed forces may also operate aircraft.

* * *

      that military organization of a nation which is primarily responsible for the conduct of air warfare. The air force has the missions of gaining control of the air, supporting surface forces (as by bombing and strafing), and accomplishing strategic-bombing objectives. The basic weapon systems of air forces are such military airplanes as fighters, bombers, fighter-bombers, attack aircraft, reconnaissance craft, and training craft. Since the mid-20th century, the air forces of some of the world's major powers have also operated those nations' contingents of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as of nuclear-armed long-range bombers. The army and naval branches of a nation's armed forces may also operate aircraft, but the air force usually remains the prime instrument of a nation's air power. The organization, command structure, and personnel grades within air forces vary from country to country.

      Air forces and air warfare are treated in a number of articles in the Macropaedia. For treatment of the history, types, and technological development of military aircraft, see military aircraft. For treatment of tactical and strategic considerations in aerial warfare, see Air tactics (air warfare). Air warfare during the course of World Wars I and II is treated in World Wars (World War I).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Air Force 1 — Air Force One Pour les articles homonymes, voir Air Force One (homonymie). L actuel Air Force One survolant le mont Rushmore dans le Dakota du …   Wikipédia en Français

  • air force — (n.) 1917, from AIR (Cf. air) (n.1) + FORCE (Cf. force) (n.); first attested with creation of the Royal Air Force. There was no United States Air Force until after World War II. The Air Corps was an arm of the U.S. Army. In 1942, the War… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Air Force — steht für: die Luftstreitkräfte oder Luftwaffe eines Landes United States Air Force, die Luftwaffe der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika Royal Air Force , die Königliche Luftwaffe Großbritanniens Royal Australian Air Force, die königlich… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Air Force 1 — steht für: Air Force One, der Funkrufname für jedes Flugzeug der US Air Force, in dem sich der Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten befindet Air Force One (Film), einen US amerikanischer Actionfilm Air Force 1 (Schuh), einen Basketballschuh …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • air-force — or airˈ force adjective (air force blue a greyish blue such as is used for Royal Air Force uniforms) • • • Main Entry: ↑air …   Useful english dictionary

  • Air force — Bat 21 Données clés Titre original Bat*21 Réalisation Peter Markle Scénario William C. Anderson (livre) William C. Anderson (scénario) and George Gordon (scénario) Acteurs principaux Gene Hackman Danny Glover …   Wikipédia en Français

  • air force — ♦♦♦ air forces N COUNT An air force is the part of a country s armed forces that is concerned with fighting in the air. ...the United States Air Force... Jack Mann was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot during World War II …   English dictionary

  • air force — n. 1. the aviation branch of the armed forces of a country 2. a) an organizational unit of an aviation force b) in the U.S. Air Force, a unit lower than an air command, usually made up of several air divisions …   English World dictionary

  • Air Force — 〈[ɛ:r fɔ:rs] f.; ; unz.; in England u. Amerika Bez. für〉 Luftstreitkräfte; →a. Royal Air Force [engl.] * * * Air Force   [ eə fɔːs, englisch] die, , die (englische und amerikanische) Luftwaffe …   Universal-Lexikon

  • air force — air ,force noun count ** the part of a country s military organization that uses airplanes in fighting: the Russian air force an air force pilot …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Air Force — 〈[ɛ:r fɔ:(r)s] f.; Gen.: ; Pl.: unz.; Mil.; in England u. Amerika〉 Luftstreitkräfte; →a. s. Royal Air Force [Etym.: engl.] …   Lexikalische Deutsches Wörterbuch

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”