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1 [1] (August 11, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/iugsr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Servce Inforring the legislative debate since 1914 Updated August 11, 2025 Defense Primer: The United States Air Force The National Security Act of 1947 (P.L. 80-253, Title II, §207), enacted on July 26, 1947, established the U.S. Air Force as an Armed Force under the Department of the Air Force (DAF). An executive order signed by then-President Harry S. Truman on the same day (EO 9877; 12 Federal Register 5005) prescribed functions of the U.S. Air Force to be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained air offensive and defensive operations. The order states in part that the U.S. Air Force is responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2020 (NDAA; P.L. 116-92, Title IX, Subtitle D) established the U.S. Space Force as an Armed Force under the DAF. The DAF is a single military department with two Armed Forces: the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force. The Air Force is led by a civilian leader, the Secretary of the Air Force. The Air Force Chief of Staff, a four-star general, reports to the Air Force Secretary, as does the Space Force Chief of Space Operations, also a four-star general. Air Force Core Functions Air Force Doctrine Publication 3-0, Operations, lists core functions of the service as air superiority; global intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); rapid global mobility; global precision attack; and command and control. Air Superiority Air superiority means establishing and maintaining control of the skies over conflict areas. The Air Force seeks to achieve air superiority using combat aircraft, electronic warfare, integrated air and missile defense, and other capabilities to destroy enemy aircraft, infrastructure, and air defenses to restrict an opponent's ability to conduct air operations. Air superiority allows air forces to provide direct support to ground forces, helping to identify and destroy targets and to prevent enemy air and missile threats from interfering with operations. Air Force officials have said that the proliferation of air defense systems, uncrewed aerial systems, and missiles have prompted the service to rethink how it achieves air superiority. Global ISR (including Targeting) Using aircraft, satellites, and other technologies, the Air Force collects, exploits, and disseminates information about adversaries and their capabilities. Air Force leaders have stated that emerging technologies, such as cyber and electronic attacks, may threaten future ISR collection in part by targeting various technologies involved in the process (e.g., jamming, spoofing, or destroying sensors). Rapid Global Mobility The Air Force's mobility forces include cargo aircraft that move cargo and personnel for a range of operations and missions around the world. Air Force aeromedical transport provides evacuation and treatment of injured servicemembers. Mobility forces support military operations, humanitarian missions, and disaster-response efforts. The Air Force's aerial refueling tanker fleet delivers fuel to other aircraft in flight to enable long-range and long- endurance operations. Global Precision Attack Some Air Force global precision attack missions include those involving the U.S. nuclear deterrent force. The Air Force develops and maintains two legs of the nuclear triad: bombers and land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. Other global strike missions include providing close-air support for ground forces, interdicting enemy forces, and inserting special operations forces. Command and Control (C2) According to Air Force Doctrine Publication 3-0, command and control systems coordinate joint operations using centralized command, distributed control, and decentralized execution. To counter emerging adversary threats, Air Force officials have stated that they are integrating command, control, communications, and battle management programs; replacing outdated systems; and incorporating artificial intelligence technologies. Organization Air Force Secretary Troy Meink is the service's civilian leader; Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David Allvin, the service's top officer, reports to Meink. In 2024, the Air Force began reorganizing its command structure as part of an initiative to respond to potential threats from China and Russia. Under the reorganization, the Air Force maintained service component commands responsible for preparing personnel to conduct operations under the command of regional or functional combatant commanders, but aligned under the commands' numbered air forces (which are supported by wings, which are supported by groups, which are supported by squadrons). Under the reorganization, the Air Force also changed what had been called major commands into institutional commands, in part to focus on organizing, training, and equipping personnel. As examples of institutional commands, the Air Force created a new command called Integrated Capabilities Command and renamed Air Education and Training Command as Airman Development Command. In February 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete ittps://Crsreports.congress.gt