The Marine Corps Air Force, also known as the United States Marine Corps Aviation or Marine Corps Aviation, refers to the aviation components of the United States Marine Corps. It comprises fixed-wing, rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and unmanned aerial vehicle squadrons. In general, Marine Corps Air Force is a term that refers to the aviation units and assets of the Marine Corps. Other synonyms for the term include Marine Aircraft Group, Marine Wing, and Marine Aviation. These terms are also used interchangeably to refer to the Marine Corps Aviation. Each of these terms describes different organizational components of the Marine Corps Aviation, which can consist of multiple squadrons and air wings. Regardless of the terminology used, the Marine Corps Aviation serves as a critical component of the U.S. Marine Corps' ability to conduct operations around the world and defend the nation's interests.