Air Force Doctrine Publication (AFDP)  3-01, Counterair Operations was written by the United States Air Force (USAF).

Establishing air superiority is typically a primary objective for the Joint Forces, particularly when facing adversaries with aerial capabilities that threaten friendly forces or impede the Joint Force commanders’ (JFCs’) operational activities.

Counterair operations are crucial in securing freedom of maneuver, freedom to attack, and freedom from adversary attacks. These capabilities also serve as a deterrent, dissuading potential hostile actions by presenting a credible military threat against enemy maneuver and attack capabilities.

AFDP 3-01, Counterair Operations, draws from historical foundations and anticipates future challenges, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness. Counterair operations play a vital role in the joint functions of fires and protection, contributing to the attainment of joint force commander objectives across cooperation, competition, and conflict scenarios. The document emphasizes the need for Airmen to receive training in planning and executing operations with a distributed and decentralized approach. Additionally, Airmen should be adept at making decisions and executing missions autonomously, guided by the commander’s intent and the principles of mission command.

Publication Date– June 2023

AFDP 3-01, Counterair Operations contains the following major sections:

  • Counterair Operations
  • Command and Control
  • Counterair Planning and Assessment
  • Execution Considerations

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Additional Resources-

USAF seeks Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) defense against UAS

U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Operations

Post Image- Two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 510th Fighter Squadron take-off at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 30, 2017. The unit performs air and space control and force application roles of counterair, strategic attack, and counterland, including interdiction and close-air support. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cory W. Bush)