The May 2025 crisis between India and Pakistan thrust air combat into the South Asian spotlight. Global interest has further intensified given the significant airpower dimension of the March 2026 conflict in the Middle East. As analysts and observers parse through reports of aircraft losses, missile strikes, and drone interceptions, much of the public discussion on these conflicts has centered on analyzing those tactical exchanges.
A meaningful assessment of air combat, however, extends past reported losses or interception rates. It requires analyzing the purposes of air control, the architecture and integration of air and missile defense systems, and the operational constraints that influence outcomes.
Drawing on video interviews with subject-matter experts, this explainer examines those broader foundations of air control and air defense. It situates these concepts in the South Asian context while identifying key analytical considerations relevant to defense planners, students, and other observers of contemporary air warfare.
The fundamental missions for airborne weapons have changed remarkably little since the first wartime use of airplanes in 1911. Military aircraft, missiles, and aerial drones enable countries to strike targets located far behind the frontlines of battle. Airpower can also be used to attack enemy forces directly, or to support military operations by conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and airlift missions.
However, the primary mission of any air force is to establish control of the airspace, making the air domain usable for one’s own operations. Air control provides military forces freedom to maneuver and attack and also prevents the adversary from using the airspace to carry out their missions.
To achieve air control, states conduct offensive and defensive counterair operations. These include attacking enemy airpower with aircraft or missiles or intercepting enemy weapons using air defense systems.
Air control isn’t a fixed state—it describes the balance between two competing air forces. Air control is typically understood as a spectrum, and air forces assess the degree of air control achieved by whether they can successfully operate in the air domain, and whether friendly forces are protected from enemy attack. If the enemy’s air and missile forces can inflict enough damage to prevent missions from succeeding, they are considered capable of prohibitive interference. Terms used to describe different levels of air control are illustrated in the graphic below.