Air Force Doctrine Document 2-1.1

CHAPTER ONE
COUNTERAIR OPERATIONS
The first objective of all commanders in the pacific war, whether
ground, sea or air, whether American, Allied, or Japanese, was to
assure control of the air.
GENERAL
Control of the air is a necessity for the American way of war,
providing enormous military advantages. It gives land, sea, and air forces
greater freedom of action while reducing their vulnerability to enemy
detection and attack. Thus, air superiority is normally the first priority of US
forces whenever the enemy possesses air and missile assets capable of threatening
friendly forces. Providing air superiority is a core competency for the
United States Air Force (USAF). Counterair is the primary function used
in gaining and maintaining air superiority and consists of offensive and
defensive operations to destroy or neutralize enemy air and missile forces.
The success of any major air, land, or sea campaign may depend on the
degree of air superiority achieved.
COUNTERAIR OBJECTIVES
The United States Strategic Bombing Surveys
The war in the Persian Gulf provided a textbook example of
what air supremacy means both for the country that gained it,
and for the country ceding it.
The objectives of the counterair function are to facilitate friendly
operations against the enemy and protect friendly forces and vital
assets through control of the air. Counterair is directed at enemy forces
and target sets that directly (airborne aircraft, surface-to-air missiles [SAMs],
etc.) or indirectly (airfields; petroleum, oils, and lubricants [POL]; production
facilities; etc.) challenge control of the air. Airmen should expect to conduct
intensive and continuous counterair operations aimed at gaining varying
degrees of air superiority at the place and time of their choosing. Air
1
General A. Malyukov
Soviet Air Force Chief of Staff