Desert Storm - The Air War

[dexter]

17th January 1991 - Operation Desert Storm begins. The largest military alliance in 50 years moves to liberate Kuwait, beginning with a massive "Shock and Awe" air assault on Iraq on Day 1. 2775 sorties are conducted against strategic Iraqi targets in the first 24 hours of the Air War.

 

[Qmjd]

1st class airforce poundering the weakest

 

[LeGenD]

1st class airforce poundering the weakest

Iraq had significant military might back in 1991 - unusual for a 3rd World country.

 

[Qmjd]

Iraq had significant military might back in 1991 - unusual for a 3rd World country.

did Iraq kill anything in the air war?

 

[LeGenD]

did Iraq kill anything in the air war?

The coalition lost a total of 75 aircraft (52 fixed wing and 23 helicopters) - majority of these to surface defenses.

FYI: http://www.rjlee.org/air/ds-aaloss/

Iraq lost a total of 249 aircraft (105 in aerial engagements; remainder on the ground).

Iraq dispatched additional 146 aircraft to Iran (not sure what Saddam regime was thinking).

 

[Metal 0-1]

Pretty Intense HUD video of F-16 dodging 6 Iraqi SAMs

 

[PakFactor]

did Iraq kill anything in the air war?

They screwed up big time and allowed Allied Forces to build up, knowing he would've lost anyways and war was going to happen he should have struck first rather than waiting a month doing nothing.

 

[PakFactor]

The coalition lost a total of 75 aircraft (52 fixed wing and 23 helicopters) - majority of these to surface defenses.

FYI: http://www.rjlee.org/air/ds-aaloss/

Iraq lost a total of 249 aircraft (105 in aerial engagements; remainder on the ground).

Iraq dispatched additional 146 aircraft to Iran (not sure what Saddam regime was thinking).

Don't forget Iraqi Air Force from '60, '70 and '80s was trained by Indian Instructors and some in India as well.

 

[Qmjd]

The coalition lost a total of 75 aircraft (52 fixed wing and 23 helicopters) - majority of these to surface defenses.

Iraq lost a total of 249 aircraft (105 in aerial engagements; remainder on the ground). Iraq dispatched additional 137 aircraft to Iran (not sure what Saddam regime was thinking).

correct your statement no loss in air war (all losses are technicals issues)
not a single kill means 3rd-class air force (249-0) ratio means even beyond imagination

 

[LeGenD]

correct your statement no loss in air war (all losses are technicals issues)

To SAM systems, not due to technical issues.

You probably missed this link: http://www.rjlee.org/air/ds-aaloss/

not a single kill means 3rd-class air force (249-0) ratio means even beyond imagination

USAF and USN subjected Iraqi military bases, power stations, and C&C infrastructure to a significant number of strikes (volley after volley of cruise missiles; F-117A Nighthawk paired with EA-6B Prowlers) at earliest. These strikes were the first of their kind in history (surprise factor) and caused much chaos and destruction; many IqAF aircraft were total loss besides important infrastructure. No country had experienced this kind of technology and warfighting before.

When Iraqi pilots regrouped and somehow took to the skies, another surprise was awaiting them (BVR engagement capabilities of USAF and USN). Many Iraqi aircraft were blown to bits from afar before they could do anything significant - another FIRST in history of warfare.

Iraqi surface defenses were formidable enough to destroy a total of 75 Coalition aircraft throughout the course of the Persian Gulf War (1991) - impressive toll given the odds.

Iraqi armed forces where shaped according to Soviet philosophy and methods of warfare in large part; they were thinking on the lines of Vietnam War (understandably). They did not realize that NATO had completely evolved in the conventional warfare aspects since the days of Vietnam War.

 

[Mamajama]

I remember a MiG-25 shot down a F/A-18 which is the only air to air kill I think.

I wonder if saddam had infrared guided SAMs could he have gotten more air kills. The problem with the missiles he had were that they didnt have enough altitude range but it is certainly possible to make infrared guided missiles that can reach very high altitude.

 

[Qmjd]

To SAM systems, not due to technical issues.

You probably missed this link: http://www.rjlee.org/air/ds-aaloss/


USAF and USN subjected Iraqi military bases, power stations, and C&C infrastructure to a significant number of strikes (volley after volley of cruise missiles; F-117A Nighthawk paired with EA-6B Prowlers) at earliest. These strikes were the first of their kind in history (surprise factor) and caused much chaos and destruction; many IqAF aircraft were total loss besides important infrastructure. No country had experienced this kind of technology and warfighting before.

When Iraqi pilots regrouped and somehow took to the skies, another surprise was awaiting them (BVR engagement capabilities of USAF and USN). Many Iraqi aircraft were blown to bits from afar before they could do anything significant - another FIRST in history of warfare.

Iraqi surface defenses were formidable enough to destroy a total of 75 Coalition aircraft throughout the course of the Persian Gulf War (1991) - impressive toll given the odds.

Iraqi armed forces where shaped according to Soviet philosophy and methods of warfare in large part; they were thinking on the lines of Vietnam War (understandably). They did not realize that Americans had completely evolved in conventional warfare methods since the days of Vietnam War.

i am saying and you are imploying:no air kill by iraqi fighter pilot what so ever (sam is a defence system)

right than what about 2nd usa vs iraq war (more pathetic than 1st one)

 

[Mamajama]

i am saying and you are imploying:no air kill by iraqi fighter pilot what so ever (sam is a defence system)

right than what about 2nd usa vs iraq war (more pathetic than 1st one)

Yes f-18 was killed by Mig-25 first day of the war.

The U.S. Navy maintained in a 1997 document that Speicher was downed by a surface-to-air missile.[9] However, an unclassified summary of a 2001 CIA report suggests that Speicher's aircraft was shot down by a missile fired from an Iraqi aircraft,[8][10] most likely a MiG-25,[2] flown by Lieutenant Zuhair Dawood, 84th squadron of the Iraqi Air Force.[11] Speicher was at 28,000 feet and travelling at 0.92 Mach (540 knots) when the front of the aircraft suffered a catastrophic event. The impact from the R-40 missile threw the aircraft laterally off its flight path between fifty and sixty degrees with a resulting 6 g minimum load.[8] A pilot on the same mission stated: "I'm telling you right now, don't believe what you're being told. It was that MiG that shot Spike down.

 

[LeGenD]

i am saying and you are imploying:no air kill by iraqi fighter pilot what so ever (sam is a defence system)

And I explained to you why this was the case. Even though IqAF had top-of-the-line French (Mirage F1) and Soviet aircraft (MiG-29 and MiG-25 variants) in its arsenal back in 1991, American F-15E outclassed each and its BVR engagement capabilities were put to good use against Iraqi combat aircraft with aid of sophisticated AWACS systems in aerial engagements (USAF demonstrated netcentric warfare techniques - world's first).

It is immature to assert/argue that IqAF was 3rd class back in 1991; USAF had EVOLVED in comparison to any other Air Force in the world instead but few had firsthand knowledge of the matter (there wasn't much coverage about military-related developments back then). There is far more exposure and coverage about military-related developments around the world in current times. But even in this age - few get things right.

right than what about 2nd usa vs iraq war (more pathetic than 1st one)

This was a much different war of-course; IqAF was in bad shape in 2003. Primary reason is that US did not allow Iraq to recover/rebuild/advance its military strength since 1991 (sad and unfortunate). Therefore, Iraq had no choice but to shift to asymmetric methods of warfare.

 

[Blacklight]

Iraq had significant military might back in 1991 - unusual for a 3rd World country.

A good leadership with a few chinks can still win. Bad leadership, with good hardware, will always give bad results.