What is the primary mission of the Air Force?

The primary mission of the Air Force is to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace, as this encompasses the core responsibilities and capabilities of the Air Force. This mission highlights the versatility and focus of air power, emphasizing the importance of supremacy in the air domain, as well as the growing significance of space and cyber operations in modern warfare. Achieving success in these areas is crucial for maintaining national security and ensuring that the United States can respond to a range of threats, whether they are military in nature or related to information and communication technologies.

The other options do not capture the full scope of the Air Force's mission. While defending against terrestrial threats and ensuring national security through land forces are integral aspects of national defense, they fall more within the purview of ground forces, such as the Army. Humanitarian assistance is also important and often part of the Air Force’s operations, but it is not the primary mission. The Air Force is primarily tasked with maintaining air superiority and leveraging air, space, and cyber capabilities to support broader military objectives. This underscores the Air Force's unique position as an aerial and space-oriented service.