Every nation may it be a developed or a developing nation, needs to be secured from its borders. It contains their independent group of people that work hard to keep the citizens protected. In other words, every country must have their group of people that are willing to work for serving their countries. There are several such units of armed forces that work to keep the respective nation protected and safe. These armed services have several branches that have highly trained soldiers in them. These branches work in different areas. Two of those branches are 1. Air Force and 2. Army.
Air Force vs Army
The main difference between Air Force and Army is that the air force is the aerial division of the armed forces that works and deals with the warfare through aerial strategies, on the other hand, the army is the ground division of the armed forces that deals with the warfare through ground strategies.
The branch of the armed forces that deals with aerial warfare are known as the air force. They provide aerial support to the armed forces by carrying out several aerial strategies in the warfare. In some countries, this branch is also known as tactical air force or numbered air force.
The branch of the armed forces that deal with the ground tactics and strategies and warfare is known as an army. Other terms through which it is addressed are land force and/ or ground force. The army deals with the warfare that is made on the ground. It makes sure that the border is protected.
Comparison Table Between Air Force and Army
| Parameters Of Comparison | Air Force | Army |
| Meaning/ Definition | The branch of the armed forces that deals with aerial warfare are known as the air force. | The branch of the armed forces that deal with the ground tactics and strategies and warfare is known as an army. |
| Deals with | Aerial warfare | Ground warfare |
| Fights in | Air | Land |
| Objective | The air force aims to protect and safeguard their country through air. | The army aims to establish land dominance and to fight and win the war for their country. |
| Vehicles used | Helicopters, drones, planes etc. | Tanks, carriers, cars, fighting vehicles etc. |
What is Air Force?
The armed forces or the military of a nation consist of three units that cover the sea, air and land. Among those three units, the one that plans the strategies for aerial defence is known as the air force. The air force conducts operations in the air by making use of several aerial vehicles.
The tactical air force is may or may not consist of the air components that they derive from other nations by allying with them. The air force consists of several aerial machineries like aircraft, helicopters, various air transport vehicles etc. Other than that, for defence, they make use of fighters, drones, bombers etc.
The history of the use of aviation machinery and tactics for warfare dates back to the year 1910 when the French army formed the first ever aviation force. In the year 1911, during the war between Turkey and Italy, Italy made use of an aircraft for conducting various missions against Turkey.
There is another type of air force that a nation can have, the independent air force. The first independent air force was the British Royal Air Force. It was founded independently on 1 April 1918. Most of the nations that have a strong military army have built their air force unit independently.
What is Army?
Among the three crucial units from a nation’s armed forces unit, the army is the defensive unit that performs operations on the ground. They are also known as the land force and/ or the ground force. An army also consists of some aspects from the air force. They make use of aerial tactics as well.
The entire concept of the army was coined by India in ancient times. Different armies went to war against each other during the Maurya empires and other dynasties. They made use of different weapons like swords, daggers, discs etc. For protecting themselves the soldiers mad use of armours and shields.
Every country has a different time and history for their use of military and army defence during wars. To distinguish an army separate from another military force various names are assigned. Sometimes, these armies are also numbered. These groups are different in size and strength. They are composed differently according to the responsibility given to them.
An army is divided into several parts. These parts are the formations. These formations include field army, corps, division, brigade, battalion etc. Each formation is under the command of different people. For instance, the commander of the corps is the lieutenant general, the commander of a the division is a major general, the commander of the brigade is a brigadier and so on.
Main Differences Between Air Force and Army
- The army handles the warfare on the ground, on the other hand, the air force handles the warfare in the air.
- The army concept is in use for a longer time than the air force.
- The vehicles used in the air force include helicopters, drones, planes etc, on the other hand, the vehicles used in the army include tanks, carriers, cars, fighting vehicles etc.
- The air force fights in the air, on the other hand, the army fights on the ground.
- The objective of the air force is to protect and safeguard their country by air, on the other hand, the objective of the objective of the army is to establish dominion on the ground and fight and win the war for their country.
Conclusion
Both army and air force is equally important and it takes immense training for people to join these units. Many people opt for this job to serve and protect their nation. May it be by sea, air or land the motive of all the units is to protect their country from any does of attacks from other countries.
Many soldiers are martyred during wars and attacks. People pay tribute to these soldiers and remember them for their deeds. These soldiers undergo immense training before they are sent to war. They are taught many things that are related to the warfare.
References
- https://www.manchesterhive.com/view/9781526123589/9781526123589.xml
- https://muse.jhu.edu/article/447081/summary