Air supremacy is the complete dominance of the air power of one side's air forces over the other side's, during a military campaign. It is the most favorable state of control of the air. It is defined by NATO and the United States Department of Defense as "that degree of air superiority wherein the opposing air force is incapable of effective interference."
Friendly Forces | Enemy Forces |
---|---|
Air supremacy | Air incapability |
Air superiority | Air denial |
Air parity | Air parity |
Air denial | Air superiority |
Air incapability | Air supremacy |
There are normally thought to be three levels of control of the air. Air supremacy is the highest, meaning there is complete control of the skies. Air superiority is the next highest, which is being in a more favorable position than the opponent. It is defined in the NATO Glossary as "That degree of dominance in the air battle of one force over another that permits the conduct of operations by the former and its related land, sea, and air forces at a given time and place without prohibitive interference by opposing air forces." Air parity is the lowest level of control, meaning control of the skies only above friendly troop positions.
For those air forces which are unable to contest for air superiority or even air parity a course of action would be Air denial, that is maintaining a level of operations that although it concedes air superiority to the other side prevents it from achieving air supremacy and having a totally free use of the air space.
Air power has since become an increasingly powerful element of military campaigns; military planners view having at least an environment of air superiority as a necessity. Air supremacy allows greatly increased bombing efforts as well as tactical air support for ground forces. In addition, paratroop assaults, airdrops, and simple cargo plane transfers can move ground forces and supplies. Air power is therefore a function of the degree of air superiority and numbers/types of craft, but representing a situation that defies black and white characterization: NATO forces enjoying air superiority over Kosovo still lost a stealth fighter to an "obselete" Serbian air defense system, and primitive An-2 biplanes, less visible to radar than metal planes, were considered for some time a serious capability of the KPA Air Force.
Read more about Air Supremacy: Post WW2 Regional Wars, Methods
Famous quotes containing the words air and/or supremacy:
“Liberty is the air that we Americans breathe. Our Government is based on the belief that a people can be both strong and free. That civilized men need no restraint but that imposed by themselves against the abuse of freedom.”
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