military aviation
Armed forces flying
Military aviation encompasses the use of aircraft for warfare and defense purposes—fighters, bombers, reconnaissance planes, helicopters, drones, and transport aircraft operated by armed forces.
The term covers both the machines and the broader enterprise: training, tactics, logistics, and doctrine.
He spent his career in military aviation.
Military aviation emerged in World War I and has shaped modern warfare ever since.
One who engages in combat
- bomberExplosive-delivery aircraft or saboteur
- helicopterRotary-wing aircraft
- transportMoving things between places
- droneUnmanned flying machine
interceptor · tanker · gunship · reconnaissance plane · stealth bomber · attack helicopter · cargo plane · seaplane
Close combat between aircraft
- sortieArmed raid outward
- air strikeAerial military assault
- bombing runCombat aircraft attack mission
- strafingAerial gunfire at ground
interception · air-to-air · ground attack · close air support · suppression · engagement · scramble · air superiority
Military aviation unit
- wingLimb enabling flight
- airbaseMilitary aviation facility
- air forceMilitary aviation branch
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
formation · aerodrome · hangar · control tower · air station
Radio-wave object detection
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- ejection seatEmergency pilot launcher
- afterburnerExhaust-stream fuel injector
- avionicsAircraft electronic equipment
stealth · fly-by-wire · targeting system · infrared · countermeasures · heads-up display · autopilot · night vision
Purpose-driven task
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- airliftEmergency transport by plane
- patrolRegular surveillance route
surveillance · logistics · briefing · air campaign · theater · no-fly zone · aerial refueling · medevac
Established body of teachings
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- air superiorityControl of the sky
- strategic bombingAirstrikes against enemy capacity
- interdictionAuthoritative prohibition or blockade
combined arms · escalation · containment · preemptive strike · shock and awe · attrition · blitzkrieg · carpet bombing
One who pilots aircraft
- airwomanWoman who flies aircraft
- aceSingle-pip card
- wingmanSupportive second in formation
- flight crewPersonnel operating an aircraft
navigator · bombardier · gunner · flying officer · squadron leader · test pilot · combat pilot · fighter pilot
fighter
One who engages in combat
- bomberExplosive-delivery aircraft or saboteur
- helicopterRotary-wing aircraft
- transportMoving things between places
drone · interceptor · tanker · gunship · reconnaissance plane · stealth bomber · attack helicopter · cargo plane · seaplane · AWACS
dogfight
Close combat between aircraft
- sortieArmed raid outward
- air strikeAerial military assault
- bombing runCombat aircraft attack mission
strafing · interception · air-to-air · ground attack · close air support · suppression · engagement · scramble · air superiority · carpet bombing
squadron
Military aviation unit
flight · formation · aerodrome · hangar · control tower · air station
radar
Radio-wave object detection
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- ejection seatEmergency pilot launcher
- afterburnerExhaust-stream fuel injector
avionics · stealth · fly-by-wire · targeting system · infrared · countermeasures · heads-up display · autopilot · night vision · electronic warfare
mission
Purpose-driven task
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- airliftEmergency transport by plane
patrol · surveillance · logistics · briefing · air campaign · theater · no-fly zone · aerial refueling · medevac · troop transport
doctrine
Established body of teachings
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- air superiorityControl of the sky
- strategic bombingAirstrikes against enemy capacity
interdiction · combined arms · escalation · containment · preemptive strike · shock and awe · attrition · blitzkrieg · carpet bombing
airman
One who pilots aircraft
flight crew · navigator · bombardier · gunner · flying officer · squadron leader · test pilot · combat pilot · fighter pilot · flight instructor
- aviationaircraft, airports, flying, flight, airplane
- aviation museumsflight simulators, hangars, warbirds, vintage aircraft, bombers
- aviation trainingflight school, flight training, pilot training, ground school, flight instructor
- air forces by regionUS Air Force, RAF, Luftwaffe
- military forcesarmy, allied forces, soldiers, troops, coalition forces
- aviation hobbiesmodel aircraft, flight simulation, flight simulators, gliding, flight training
military aviationcommercial aviation
Scheduled passenger air transport
civil aviation · private aviation · commercial airlines · commercial flight · general aviation
military aviationrelief operations
Coordinated emergency assistance efforts
military aviationnaval warfare
Military operations at sea
ground forces · army · naval operations · infantry · armored warfare
military, aviation, aviators, aviator, aviate, militarist, militaristic, warplane, fighter jet