WHAT IS AN AIR FORCE W his is an age of air power and the mil itary strength of a nation depends in great part upon the effectiveness of its air force All of the major countries of the world maintain air forces as part of their defense systems Air power also reaches into outer space where satellites control modern weapons and communications systems The contemporary air force relies on com puter and radar technology to control fleets of fighters bombers transports and reconnais sance spy craft Modern airplanes can carry missiles and bombs as well as machine guns while tanker planes can refuel fighters and bombers in the air to lengthen flight time ORGANIZATION Most of the world s air forces organize their resources in similar ways Air forces either are dependent units of an army navy or unified defense system or are autonomous service branches 13
THE HISTORY OF AIR FORCES AROUND THE WORLD Four generations of aircraft of the United States Air Force flying over Hampton Roads Va in a Heritage Flight during an air show U S Air Force Getty Images Air force members hold military ranks sim ilar to those of other services Commissioned officers are usually headed by generals as in France or by marshals as in Great Britain These are followed by some mix of commo dores colonels group captains lieutenant Colonels commanders wing and squadron leaders lieutenants and pilot officers Enlisted men and women generally include sergeants corporals privates and aircraftsmen 14
WHAT IS AN AIR FORCE In many nations the smallest units of planes and personnel are called flights These traditionally consist of three or four aircraft Larger organizational units include squadrons wings divisions and commands The major combat commands of the United States Air Force for example are each organ nized into at least two divisions They in turn contain wings of dozens of planes Wings are further divided into squadrons composed of several flights of aircraft Air force commands usually perform one of five military functions strategic tactical air defense logistical or training Often the duties of a command change in response to new national and international needs and improved weapons Strategic commands involve attack and bombing missions They rely on the use of heavy bombers as well as strategic missile systems These systems include interconti nental ballistic missiles which are equipped with nuclear warheads and are launched from underground silos and air to surface attack missiles which are launched from aircraft onto enemy defenses In some coun tries such as the United States and Japan the strategic command also uses space satellites 15
