A US Navy/Marine Corps term used to indicate the action required to destroy or reduce the enemy air and missile threat to an acceptable level. It includes such measures as the use of interceptors, bombers, antiaircraft guns, surface-to-air and air- to-air missiles, electronic countermeasures, and destruction of the air or missile threat both before and after it is launched.

Other measures that are taken to minimize the effects of hostile air action are cover, concealment, dispersion, deception (including electronic), and mobility.