air cover

American  

noun

1. the use of aircraft to protect ground or naval military operations.

2. the protection given by such aircraft.

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air cover British  

noun

1. Also called: air support. 

   1. the use of aircraft to provide aerial protection for ground forces against enemy air attack

   2. the aircraft used in this

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Example Sentences

It will be late Sunday and into next week when the Arctic air covers the whole of the UK.

From BBC

They could provide air cover, Cabell suggested, give the men a chance to unload their supplies and get off the open beach.

From Literature

The Nigerian Air Force said it would continue to provide air cover to ground troops dismantling jihadist bases in the north-east.

From BBC

But there has been no such public offer of air cover from the White House.

From BBC

"It's really, really difficult for local authorities when they've not got that air cover from government," she said.

From BBC