What overarching goal do Air Power's principles serve in military operations?

The overarching goal of Air Power's principles in military operations is to establish air superiority over adversaries. Achieving air superiority is crucial because it allows a military force to control the airspace and deny enemy forces the ability to effectively use their own air capabilities. When a military has dominance in the air, it can conduct operations with a significantly reduced risk from enemy aircraft and missiles, which leads to increased operational effectiveness across the entire theater of operations.

In the context of military strategy, air superiority enables various missions, including close air support, strategic bombing, reconnaissance, and surveillance. This control also allows for the safe operation of ground and naval forces, bolstering their effectiveness and reducing casualties. While supporting ground forces, maintaining a global military presence, and facilitating negotiations are all important components of military strategy, they are secondary to the fundamental need for air superiority that enables those other efforts. Without control of the air, a military may struggle to execute its broader objectives effectively.