The Persian Gulf War Operation DESERT STORM 1

The Persian Gulf War Operation DESERT STORM 1

Overview § Background to the Conflict • Iraqi threats § The Plan of Attack • • § Concept of Operations Five Strategic Rings Targets Campaign Overview Video Clip 2

Background 3

US Objectives § § Immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwait Restoration of Kuwait’s legitimate government Security an stability of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf Protection of American citizens abroad 4

Operation Desert Shield § CENTCOM CINC - Army Gen H. Norman Schwarzkopf • CENTAF Gen Charles A. Horner • Became the JFACC during the war § In first 5 days: • Five fighter squadrons, contingent of AWACS, and part of 82 nd Airborne Division • Equal Iraqi force by first 35 days § Air Reserves/Air National Guard called to active duty 5

Iraqi Threat - 4 th largest armed force in WORLD - Nuclear, Biological, Chemical - Scud Missiles 6

Air Defense Threat - Iraq’s air defense system thought to the best outside of the Soviet Union - US was probably the only nation in the world with the airpower to “disintegrate” an integrated system of this type 7

The Plan of Attack 8

Objectives - Isolate & incapacitate Iraqi command structure - Win Air Superiority - Destroy Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Capability - Eliminate Iraqi Offensive Military Capability - Eject Iraqi Army from Kuwait 9

Concept Of Operations - Powerful & Focused air attacks on strategic centers of gravity over a short period of time -- Target Hussein Regime, not Iraqi people -- Minimize civilian casualties & collateral damage -- Minimize coalition losses -- Pit US and Coalition strengths against Iraqi weaknesses 10

Instant Thunder § Developed by Colonel John Warden and his Checkmate staff in Washington • Named in direct response to Vietnam’s unsuccessful Rolling Thunder campaign § Based on a unique five-ring model of the modern nation state 11

The Five Strategic Rings Fielded Military Forces National Population National Infrastructure Key Production/Organic Essentials National Leadership 12

Target Systems 13

Campaign Overview Four Part Campaign: Phase I -- Strategic Air Campaign Phase II -- Suppression of enemy Air Defenses over Kuwait vicinity Phase III -- Air Attacks on ground forces in Kuwait and vicinity Phase IV -- Ground Operations as Directed 14

And in the End… § On 27 Feb 91, the Iraqi military was scattered and defeated • Iraq lost 90 aircraft to coalition forces • 122 Iraqi aircraft fled to Iran § § Stealth provided to need edge! The Persian Gulf War officially ended on 11 Apr 91 15

“Beyond the Wild Blue” Video 16

Summary § Background to the Conflict • Iraqi threats § The Plan of Attack • • Concept of Operations Five Strategic Rings Targets Campaign Overview 17