air power
- noun
- /ɛr paʊər/
- Specialized
- Now air power is the dominant feature of military operations.
- use air power
- NATO air power
- U.S. air power
At least one Somali historian has argued that the campaign was launched at least partly to test out the effects of air power in colonial war.
- At least one Somali historian has argued that the campaign was launched at least partly to test out the effects of air power in colonial war.
- What made the maneuver warfare blitzkrieg offenses of the German Army possible were Stukas and air power over the battle space.
- Personally, if I had a vote, but I would give him The Jets so that he can create his own no fly zone by having the air power to defend his face.
Examples
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The West cannot resolve this conflict on acceptable terms with limited air power.
Academic text (1994) -
The Nazis' devastating coordination of ground forces with military air power showcased the airplane as a tool of war.
Academic text (2004) -
And we have the sea and air power to back this up.
Academic text (1997) -
If that day ever comes, we will go in first with air power.
Fiction book (1994) -
Yet the war ended before the world fully realized... the military potential of air power.
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Both missions necessitated air power and field mobility.
Academic text (1993) -
Our naval defense of the Pacific crumpled... under the blows of air power.
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China now possesses nuclear weapons, and it has accelerated the modernization of its naval and air power.
Academic text (1997) -
Rebels say that Hezbollah reinforcements and the use of helicopters, air power, and rockets have tipped the balance of power.
Blog text (26) -
Modern conflicts often hinge on the effectiveness of air power to achieve strategic objectives.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'combined military strength of a nation's air force' is directly derivable from combining 'air' (aviation/aircraft) with 'power' (capacity or force). This is a standard, compositional noun compound found cross-linguistically (e.g., Spanish 'poder aéreo', French 'puissance aérienne'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the meaning.
Etymology
The term air power comes from the simple image of using the sky to fight: putting planes into the air to give a country more power over enemies below. So, 'air power' means a nation's strength in planes and other military aircraft.