Air superiority over Iraq was established by Gulf War aircraft. Saddam Hussein was driven underground with the help of a combination F-16s and other planes. They also destroyed military equipment and strategic industrial targets. The war was meant to deter an Iraqi attack on Saudi Arabia.
In addition to attacking the enemy on the battlefield, the coalition air forces also used their aerial power to damage Iraq's Integrated Air Defense System and critical military support networks. Scud missile-launchers were the focus of one third of Coalition airpower.
While the MiG-23 was the main interceptor, a number of F-15Es were deployed to the war zone. Using laser systems, these fighters targeted hard targets such as tanks and armored vehicles. These fighters were capable of hunting SCUD rockets at night.
The F-4G Wild Weasel was another type of aircraft that helped the coalition's airpower. These aircraft were armed, despite the name, with HARM antiradar missiles. They were able destroy Iraq's SAMs and penetrated the Iraqi defense system, which helped them to establish air control over Iraq in early stages.
A second strategy used by the coalition was to attack Iraq’s power generators. The B-52, a large bomber plane, dropped 38% of all US war bombs. The B-52 was a valuable platform as it was not only a highly capable aircraft, but also a versatile platform that could be modified and used as a bomber. This allowed the Coalition to strike at Iraq's power production in an efficient manner.
The Iraqi Air Force collapsed after the US-led invasion. There were only 550 remaining aircraft. The rest were sent for Iran. The air force of Iraq continued to decline as the war progressed. Although there were a few special force units deployed to western Iraq for operations, the terrain made it difficult.
The coalition's fighters, aircraft and pilots ultimately defeated the Integrated Air Defense System (IAS) and other air defenses in Iraq. But they were unable completely to destroy the power generation plants in Iraq. This along with the non-existence of Scud Launchers and other air defence weapons, prevented a total 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. Active electronic suppression and signals intelligence were both being used to counter Iraqi air defenses. It was not until the end of the war that the Iraqi air force was fully reconstituted.
During the war, hundreds of older aircraft were retired and replaced with newer platforms that were more stealthy and efficient. F-15Es were particularly effective in attacking hard targets. It was a fighter that could attack targets regardless of weather or daytime.
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.