Which Air Force core function focuses on operations conducted by airpower to achieve control of the skies?

The focus of air superiority as an Air Force core function is to establish and maintain control of the airspace during military operations. This function involves a range of activities that ensure friendly forces can operate freely in the skies while denying the enemy the same capability. Achieving air superiority is critical as it allows for the safe execution of ground and naval operations, the protection of friendly forces, and the use of air power to support missions effectively.

Air superiority encompasses various tactics, including suppressing enemy air defenses, engaging enemy aircraft, and performing reconnaissance to assess threats. This ensures that friendly forces dominate the aerial domain, which is essential for modern warfare where airpower is pivotal in both offensive and defensive operations.

The other options, while important components of military operations, do not specifically target the objective of gaining and maintaining control of the skies. Global strike focuses on the capability to project power through rapid response options. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) supports operational decision-making through information gathering and analysis. C2, or Command and Control, pertains to the processes and systems that facilitate effective decision-making and execution. Each of these functions plays a role in broader military strategy, but air superiority is uniquely centered on the control of airspace.