Which principle emphasizes the need for forces to work together in air operations?

The principle that emphasizes the need for forces to work together in air operations is unity of command. This principle is crucial in joint air operations because it ensures that all elements of different branches of the military and various coalition partners operate under a single authority. This unified directive streamlines decision-making, fosters collaboration, and eliminates confusion that can arise from multiple conflicting commands.

When all forces are under a unified command, the effectiveness of air operations is significantly enhanced as they can be coordinated in a cohesive manner, maximizing their collective impact on achieving strategic objectives. This principle promotes synergy, allowing for the integration of air assets and the strategic synchronization of operations to ensure that all actions contribute toward common goals.

In contrast, while mass, flexibility, and security are also important principles in military operations, they do not specifically address the need for cohesive operational synergy among different forces in the context of air operations, which is the central focus of unity of command.