Gulf War planes had a vital role in establishing air superiority over Iraq. Saddam Hussein was driven underground with the help of a combination F-16s and other planes. They also destroyed the strategic industrial targets and military hardware. The war was meant deterring an Iraqi attack upon Saudi Arabia.
The coalition air force used its aerial power to attack the enemy on the battlefield and also to destroy the Integrated Air Defense System in Iraq and other critical military support networks. Scud missile launcheders were destroyed, accounting for a third of Coalition airpower.
The main interceptor was the MiG-23, but there were also a few F-15Es deployed to the warzone. 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 equipped with HARM anti radar missiles, despite their 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.
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 an important platform, as it was not only highly capable but could also be modified to become a bomber. This allowed the Coalition attack Iraq's power plant in an efficient manner.
After the US-led invasion, the Iraqi Air Force had been completely destroyed. Only 550 of the aircraft survived. The rest were sent to Iran. As the war progressed, Iraq's air force continued its slide. Although there were a few special force units deployed to western Iraq for operations, the terrain made it difficult.
In the end, the Integrated Air Defense System and other air defenses of Iraq were defeated by the coalition's fighters and aircraft. But they were unable completely to destroy the power generation plants 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.
The coalition's airpower had shifted to attacking the enemy on the battlefield by the end of the war. Active electronic suppression and signals intelligence were both being used to counter Iraqi air defenses. The Iraqi airforce was not fully reconstituted until after the war.
Hundreds more older aircraft were scrapped during World War II and were replaced by stealthier and more efficient newer models. F-15Es were especially effective in striking hard targets. The fighter was a multi-role aircraft that could attack targets in any weather or at any time of day.
The US Navy launched Tomahawk Cruise missiles from warships in the Persian Gulf during the air campaign. These missiles were a vital weapon for stopping the oil dumping into the Gulf.