It was the Gulf War aircraft that played an important role in establishing superior air power over Iraq. A combination of F-16s and other aircraft helped drive Saddam Hussein underground. They also destroyed strategic industrial targets' military hardware. This war was intended to prevent an Iraqi attack against Saudi Arabia.
Not only did they attack the enemy in the battlefield, but the coalition air forces also used the power of their aerial weapons to hit the Integrated Air Defense System (IADS) and critical military support network. One-third of Coalition airpower was dedicated to destroying Scud missile launchers.
The main interceptor was the MiG-23, but there were also a few F-15Es deployed to the warzone. These fighters targeted difficult targets such as tanks, armored vehicles and other vehicles using laser systems. These jets were able night to hunt SCUD Missiles.
F-4G Wild Weasel (another type of aircraft used by the coalition to support its air power) was another. The aircraft was equipped with HARM antiradar weapons, despite its name. Their ability to defeat Iraq's SAMs and their ability to penetrate the Iraqi air defense system helped them to establish air dominance over Iraq in the early stages of the war.
The coalition also used a strategy to attack Iraq's power plants. The B-52, a large bomber plane, dropped 38% of all US war bombs. It was a valuable platform. The B-52 could not only be highly skilled, but it could also be modified and used to bombers. This allowed the Coalition to strike at Iraq's power production in an efficient manner.
The Iraqi Air Force was destroyed completely by the US-led invasion in Iraq. Only 550 aircraft were left. The rest were sent for Iran. The war continued and Iraq's air force fell behind as the war progressed. Even though a few special forces units were sent to western Iraq, it was difficult to conduct operations there.
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. That, along with the absence of Scud launchers and other air defense weapons, prevented a complete destruction of the power grid in the country.
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 air force was only fully reconstituted after the war ended.
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. The fighter was multi-role and could attack targets at any weather or time of day.
The US Navy launched Tomahawk-class cruise missiles out of its warships in Persian Gulf during the aerial campaign. These missiles proved to be a crucial weapon against oil dumping in the Gulf.