Persian Gulf War Air Campaign

The 1991 Persian Gulf War opened with a massive air campaign against Iraq. In the early hours of the operation, coalition forces led by the United States struck Baghdad and targets across Iraq with combat aircraft and Tomahawk cruise missiles, aiming to cripple the Iraqi command structure, air defenses, and ability to wage war.

The campaign showcased precision-guided weapons on a scale not seen before. U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft used laser-guided bombs and cruise missiles to strike key targets with high accuracy, and televised footage of the strikes made the war a landmark demonstration of modern air power. The air assault continued for weeks before the ground offensive began, ensuring coalition forces enjoyed near-total air superiority.

One persistent frustration was the so-called 'Scud hunt.' Despite intensive effort, coalition air forces found it extremely difficult to locate and destroy Iraq's mobile Scud ballistic missile launchers, which continued firing at Israel and Saudi Arabia. This shortcoming highlighted the limits of air power against small, mobile, easily hidden targets.