Gulf War planes had a vital role in establishing air superiority over Iraq. Saddam Hussein fell underground using a combination F-16s as well as other aircraft. They also destroyed the strategic industrial targets and military hardware. The war was meant to deter an Iraqi attack on Saudi Arabia.
Allies used their air power to strike the enemy on both the battlefield and the Integrated Air Defense System of Iraq. Scud missile launches were destroyed was the goal of three-quarters of Coalition airpower.
F-15Es were used to deploy to the war zones, while the MiG-23 served as the main interceptor. These fighters used laser systems to target hard targets like tanks and armored cars. These fighters could hunt SCUD missiles night.
F-4G Wild Weasel is another type that contributed to the coalition’s airpower. These aircraft were armed, despite the name, with HARM antiradar missiles. They were able to defeat the SAMs in Iraq and penetrate the Iraqi air defense systems, allowing them to establish air supremacy over Iraq during the initial stages of war.
The coalition also employed a second strategy, which was to attack Iraq’s generators of power. The B-52, a large conventional bomber, dropped 38 percent of all US bombs during World War II. The B-52, a powerful platform with its high-tech capabilities and versatility that allowed it to be modified and used as an aircraft bomber, was invaluable. This allowed the Coalition attack Iraq's power plant in an efficient manner.
The Iraqi Air Force fell apart after the US-led invasion. Only 550 of the aircraft survived. The rest were sent to Iran. The air force of Iraq continued to decline as the war progressed. Although there were some special forces units that were deployed to western Iraq to assist with operations, the terrain was too difficult.
The coalition's fighters & planes eventually defeated the Integrated Air Defense System in Iraq and other air defenses. They were unable however to completely destroy the power-generation facilities in Iraq. This, together with the lack of Scud launchers or other air defense weapons, prevented the complete destruction of the country's power grid.
By the end of the war, most of the coalition's airpower was focused on attacking enemy forces on the battlefield. At the same moment, active electronic suppression aircraft (AESA) and signals intelligence were countering Iraq's air defences. The Iraqi military air force was not fully reconstituted until the end.
Hundreds of older aircraft were destroyed and replaced by newer, more stealthy and more efficient platforms during World War II. F-15Es excelled at striking hard targets. This fighter could be used to attack targets in all weather conditions and at any time of the day.
The US Navy launched Tomahawk cruise bombers from its warships at the Persian Gulf. These missiles served as a weapon to stop oil dumping from the Gulf.