An air force is a nation's military organization primarily responsible for air warfare, with missions that include gaining air control, supporting ground forces, and conducting strategic bombing. Air forces operate aircraft like fighters and bombers, and many also manage land-based strategic missiles and space operations. They are crucial for national defense, but also have peacetime duties such as air policing and rescue. They typically include maintaining air superiority, performing global strikes, providing rapid global mobility, and conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. While they are known for their pilots, air forces require extensive support from personnel in roles such as logistics, intelligence, maintenance, and cyber support. Their equipment includes not only planes but also anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. The scope of air forces varies by country, with some, like the U.S. Air Force, also being responsible for space operations and intercontinental ballistic missiles. While the air force is a separate branch within a nation's armed forces, it often operates under a civilian secretary and military chief of staff. The term can also refer to tactical formations within a larger air force.