Air superiority over Iraq was established by Gulf War aircraft. Saddam Hussein's underground was made possible by the combination of F-16s with other aircraft. They also destroyed military equipment and strategic industrial targets. 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. One-third of Coalition airpower was dedicated to destroying Scud missile launchers.
Although the MiG-23 was used as the main interceptor, several F-15Es were also deployed in the war zone. These fighters targeted difficult targets such as tanks, armored vehicles and other vehicles using laser systems. These jets were able to hunt SCUD missiles at night.
F-4G Wild Weasel, another type of aircraft, was also used to aid the coalition's aerial power. Despite its name, these aircraft were armed with HARM anti-radar 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.
Another strategy that the coalition used was to attack Iraq’s power generation plants. 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 attack Iraq's power plant in an efficient manner.
The Iraqi Air Force fell apart after the US-led invasion. There were only 550 remaining aircraft. Rest were sent to Iran. As the war progressed, Iraqi air force continued to fall behind. Although some special forces units were deployed in western Iraq, it proved difficult to operate operations due to the terrain.
The coalition's fighters & planes eventually defeated the Integrated Air Defense System in Iraq and other air defenses. However, they were not able to completely destroy 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.
The coalition's airpower had shifted to attacking the enemy on the battlefield by the end of the war. At the time, Iraq's aerial defenses were being countered with active electronic suppression planes and signals intelligence. The Iraqi military air force was not fully reconstituted until the end.
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 were vital weapons in stopping oil from leaking into the Gulf.