What is the primary mission of the Air Force?

The primary mission of the Air Force is to protect the United States and its interests through air and space power. This encompasses a wide range of activities, including defending the nation against threats, maintaining air superiority, conducting reconnaissance and intelligence operations, and ensuring a rapid response capability in various environments.

Air and space power is vital for strategic deterrence and effective military operations, as it allows for the projection of force globally, rapid mobility of forces, and the ability to gather and exploit intelligence. This mission aligns with the fundamental role of the Air Force in securing national security and supporting the objectives of the U.S. military.

Other activities, such as providing humanitarian aid or training pilots for commercial aviation, do not reflect the core purpose of the Air Force within the context of national defense and military strategy. Similarly, conducting ground operations falls primarily to other branches of the military, further establishing air and space power as the defining aspect of the Air Force's mission.