Imperial Aerial Defense Force

The Imperial Aerial Defense Force (ADF) (Latin: Legio Caelis Custodiae), also known as the Caphirian Air Force, is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the Imperial Armed Forces of Caphiria. With more than 4 million active personnel and over 5,300 military aircraft, 599 ICBMs and 250 military satellites, and a budget of $764 billion, the Caphirian Air Force is the second largest branch of the IAF, behind only to the Imperial Legion.

Founded in 1929 as a response to the Great War, the ADF's primary mission was to improve and assist the reconnaissance capabilities of the Legion. The original force consisted of tri-planes outfitted with radios to relay aerial photographs to the ground. As the Great War continued to escalate, the function and importance of the air force grew larger.In 1944, the Aerial Defense Legion became its own military branch, and prior to that time air force personnel usually worked for one of the three main branches of the military.

Today, the ADF is one of the largest and most technologically advanced air forces in the world. The ADF articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated ISR, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control. Since the organization's inception, the head of the ADF has been the Legatus Caelus (Sky Commander). Starting off as an honorary title for skilled pilots, the Legatus became the highest commanding rank once the Air Force was officially created. =Mission= "The Imperial Aerial Defense Force shall include aviation forces both combat and service not otherwise assigned. It shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. The Air Force shall be responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war."

The purpose of the ADF is defined in the Constitution as:


 * to preserve the peace and security, and provide for the defense, of the Imperium of Caphiria, its provinces, possessions, and holdings;
 * to support national policy;
 * to implement national objectives;
 * to overcome any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the Imperium.

The stated mission of the ADF today is to "fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace".

=Organization= Like all branches of the government, the ADF has its own ministry, and it is known surprisingly as the Ministry of Defense. This reflects the perceived role the Air Force plays for Caphiria, namely the defense of its borders and assets. The ministry's supervisor, the Prime Minister of Defense, is also in charge of the affairs of the Caphirian National Guard (Castellanae).

The highest rank within the ADF is the Commander of the Air Force (Legatus Caelus). Though the Commander is headquartered at the Castrum Iratio near Xalen, he is an important public figure and appears in most addresses by the military to the people. The Secretary of the Air Force (Nuntius Caelius) also represents the Commander of the Air Force at all Gathering of Legates for when he himself is not able to attend. This makes him very strongly involved in high-level military matters at all times.

Administrative leadership
Given the unorthodox nature of an Air Force when compared to the other armed forces, there are only three commanding ranks under the Commander of the Air Force.

Directly below the Commander of the Air Force are the 5 Continental Commanders (Continensae) of the Air Force. Within their area of jurisdiction, a Continensa has total control over all pilots and operators. They are usually based in an important capital within their jurisdiction. The most unique one is the Continensa Impetua who leads the Assault Corps; this group operates directly in concert with the Navy through its aircraft carriers. Although it is the smallest Corps of the Air Force (1,800 planes), the Assault Corps is typically its most active one, and has been used in nearly all major offensives in the past century.

Each Continental Commander controls a number of bases (castrum) that are lead by Fort Commanders (Castrensae). On average, an Air Force base contains 100-500 aircraft. The largest, the Castrum Dericania, has nearly 1,000 craft, while the smallest, the Praetorium Melita, houses only 14. Most bases have an even mix of fighters, bombers and their unmanned counterparts. Fort Commanders control all operative units, the intelligence, electronic warfare capabilities and the operational headquarter of their base. The Castrensae ensures that the base is equipped, trained and prepared for combat duty and controls them during combat operations.

Control of an individual squadron goes to a Squadron Commander (Primae). It is the most junior position within the Administrative Leadership, being able to formulate high level strategies. They are typically responsible for commanding a wing of 1,000 to 3,00 airmen of lower ranks. Usually, Primae fly the most advanced ships in a formation, typically an A-138 or SC-40, depending on the type of squadron. A Squadron Commander has a wide multiplicity of duties and responsibilities. There are more than hundreds of different Air Force Specialty Codes to administer inside this area office of the military, therefore one Air Force Squadron Commander might sit behind a desk and manage contracting specialists while another Squadron Commander might run the base chapel and conduct religious services. Squadron Commanders are not the highest ranks in military however they are regarded as senior officers, so commonly they are assigned to command a division or entire bases depending on the purposes, specializations and of the size of the division or base. A colonel can be assigned to a flying unit, or assigned to supervise the dining facility; the colonel might even act as a link between the general or high-ranking commander and the rest of the lower-ranking air force officers.

Operational leadership
=Personnel=