air power

American  

noun

1. the total military capability of a nation for operations involving the use of aircraft and missiles.

---

air power British  

noun

1. the strength of a nation's air force

---

Etymology

Origin of air power

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Some US analysts have described the loss of an F-15E deep inside Iranian territory, followed by the destruction of several rescue aircraft, as showing the limitations of the US air power.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Such vessels can largely be deterred by the U.S. dominant air power, but “European powers will not be able, and probably not willing, to replace that capability,” Nadimi said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

"This is a new type of approach to air power where you have a crewed fighter giving directions to four or five Ghost Bats flying in formation with it," he said.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Even Kosovo, often cited as the success story of coercive air power, undermines the case.

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2026

British policy, on the other hand, should aim at fostering civil aviation primarily as a commercial concern and believes that air commerce is the basis of air power as a whole.

From Aviation in Peace and War by Sykes, Frederick Hugh, Sir