The Persian Gulf War

AS200, Lesson 23

Lesson Objective

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE: Know the key events of Operation : Know the key events of Operation Desert Shield/Storm and the impact of air and space Desert Shield/Storm and the impact of air and space power to its success during the Persian Gulf Warpower to its success during the Persian Gulf War

Samples of BehaviorSamples of BehaviorState the State the US objectivesUS objectives of the Gulf Warof the Gulf WarList the List the Objectives of the Air CampaignObjectives of the Air Campaign in the Gulf Warin the Gulf WarOutline the Outline the key elementskey elements of Col Wardenof Col Warden’’s s ““Instant Instant ThunderThunder”” planplanIdentify the Identify the four phasesfour phases of the Air Campaignof the Air CampaignDescribe the Describe the significance of air and space powersignificance of air and space power in the in the Gulf WarGulf War

Overview•• BackgroundBackground

-- Iraqi ThreatsIraqi Threats•• The Plan of AttackThe Plan of Attack

-- Concept of OperationsConcept of Operations-- Five Strategic RingsFive Strategic Rings-- TargetsTargets-- Campaign OverviewCampaign Overview

•• VideoVideo

BackgroundBackground

Desert Shield…Desert StormDesert Shield…Desert Storm

US Objectives

-- Immediate, complete and unconditional Immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwaitwithdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwait

-- Restoration of KuwaitRestoration of Kuwait’’s legitimate s legitimate governmentgovernment

-- Security and stability of Saudi Arabia and the Security and stability of Saudi Arabia and the Persian GulfPersian Gulf

-- Protection of American citizens abroadProtection of American citizens abroad

Operation Desert Shield

-- CENTCOM CINCCENTCOM CINCArmy Gen SchwarzkopfArmy Gen Schwarzkopf

-- CENTAF Gen HornerCENTAF Gen Horner-- Became JFACC during the warBecame JFACC during the war

-- In First 5 DaysIn First 5 Days-- Five Fighter Squadrons, contingent of AWACS, and part Five Fighter Squadrons, contingent of AWACS, and part

of 82of 82ndnd Airborne DivisionAirborne Division-- USAFUSAF--deployed fighter force equaled Iraqi AF in 35 daysdeployed fighter force equaled Iraqi AF in 35 days

-- Air Reserve/NatAir Reserve/Nat’’l Guard called to active dutyl Guard called to active duty

Iraqi Threat

-- 4th largest armed force in WORLD4th largest armed force in WORLD

-- NNuclear, uclear, BBiological, iological, CChemicalhemical

-- Scud MissilesScud Missiles

But we also had to worry about…

-- IraqIraq’’s air defense system thought to the s air defense system thought to the best outside of the Soviet Unionbest outside of the Soviet Union

-- US was probably the only nation in the US was probably the only nation in the world with the airpower to world with the airpower to ““disintegratedisintegrate”” an integrated system of an integrated system of this typethis type

Air Defense Threat

Planning for theStorm

What were we going to do…

and how were we going to do it?

Objectives

-- Isolate & incapacitate Iraqi command Isolate & incapacitate Iraqi command structurestructure

-- Win Air SuperiorityWin Air Superiority-- Destroy Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Destroy Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical

CapabilityCapability-- Eliminate Iraqi Eliminate Iraqi OffensiveOffensive Military Military

CapabilityCapability-- Eject Iraqi Army from KuwaitEject Iraqi Army from Kuwait

What were we trying to achieve?

Concept Of Operations

-- Powerful & Focused air attacksPowerful & Focused air attacks on on strategicstrategiccenters of gravity over a centers of gravity over a short period of timeshort period of timeIt It ainain’’tt going to be no Rolling Thunder!going to be no Rolling Thunder!

---- Target Hussein Regime, not Iraqi peopleTarget Hussein Regime, not Iraqi people---- Minimize civilian casualties & collateralMinimize civilian casualties & collateral

damagedamage---- Minimize coalition lossesMinimize coalition losses---- Pit US and Coalition strengths against IraqiPit US and Coalition strengths against Iraqi

vulnerabilitiesvulnerabilities

The way we were going to achieve the objectives

“Instant Thunder”

-- Developed by Col John WardenDeveloped by Col John Wardenand his Checkmate staff and his Checkmate staff in Washingtonin Washington

Based on Warden’s 5-ring model of the modern nation state

Named to directly contrast Rolling Thunder

The Five Strategic Rings

Fielded Military ForcesFielded Military ForcesPopulationPopulation

InfrastructureInfrastructureKey productionKey production

LeadershipLeadership

A planning framework

Applied to Iraq…

Target Systems

Leadership Key Production Infra-structure

Population Fielded Force

Hussein Regime

Electricity

Oil Railroads

Bridges Strat Psyops

- Iraqis Destroy Strat Air Defense

Incapacitate Tele- communications - Civil - Military

- only internal distribution and storage not pro-duction /export capability

- Foreign workers

Destroy Strat Offense - Bombers - Missiles

Internal Control organ. - Hurt

Nuclear Biological Chemical Research Facility

Tac Psyops - Soldiers in Kuwiat

Republican Guard

Campaign Overview

Four Part Campaign:Four Part Campaign:Phase IPhase I ---- Strategic Air CampaignStrategic Air CampaignPhase IIPhase II ---- Suppression of enemySuppression of enemy

Air Defenses over Kuwait vicinityAir Defenses over Kuwait vicinityPhase IIIPhase III ---- Air Attacks on groundAir Attacks on ground

forces in Kuwait and vicinityforces in Kuwait and vicinityPhase IVPhase IV ---- Ground Operations asGround Operations as

DirectedDirected

Video

�� Eject Iraqi Army from KuwaitEject Iraqi Army from Kuwait

�� Eliminate Iraqi Offensive Military CapabilityEliminate Iraqi Offensive Military Capability

� Destroy Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical � Destroy Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical CapabilityCapability

�� Win Air SuperiorityWin Air Superiority

�� Isolate & incapacitate Iraqi command Isolate & incapacitate Iraqi command structurestructure

Results: Accomplish Objectives?

• Air-Air Kill Ratio: 35-0

• SAM & AAA destroyed/suppressed

• > 200 aircraft destroyed on ground

• 375 shelters destroyed/damaged

• > 120 aircraft fled to Iran

• Destroyed all known Nuclear and Biological R & D and Production capability

• 75 percent of Chemical

• Air Force Destroyed

• Majority of Armor/Artillery Destroyed

• SCUD Production Destroyed

Airpower alone did not eject Iraqis, but…

Airpower Prepared the Battlefield

Isolated & Decimated ForcesIsolated & Decimated Forces In Kuwait In Kuwait Theater Of OperationsTheater Of Operations

-- 60% of Tanks and Artillery Destroyed60% of Tanks and Artillery Destroyed-- Demoralized enemy troops: Demoralized enemy troops:

2020--40% desertion rates40% desertion rates-- Interdicted supply lines: most troops Interdicted supply lines: most troops

below subsistence levelbelow subsistence level

Phase IV, the ground war, lasted only 100 hours

Lesson Reaffirmed• Air Superiority is vital• Single Air Commander essential for

victory• Strategic Air Campaign theory validated• The offense is stronger than the defense

in air warfare• Air Power can prevail over ground forces

And where do we document lessons learned on Airpower?

AF Doctrine

A belief in the best way to implement/use air and space power

Based on:Based on:

•• HistoryHistory

•• TechnologyTechnology

•• Leaders, etc.Leaders, etc.

Must NOT stagnateMust NOT stagnate

Conclusion•• BackgroundBackground

-- Iraqi ThreatsIraqi Threats•• The Plan of AttackThe Plan of Attack

-- Concept of OperationsConcept of Operations-- Five Strategic RingsFive Strategic Rings-- TargetsTargets-- Campaign OverviewCampaign Overview

•• VideoVideo•• ResultsResults……Lessons ReaffirmedLessons Reaffirmed

Back-Up Slides

STRATEGIC•• StealthStealth

-- 2% of force hit 40% of Strategic Targets2% of force hit 40% of Strategic Targets

-- Struck most targets in Baghdad, Struck most targets in Baghdad, undetectedundetected

-- UnstoppableUnstoppable……and couldnand couldn’’t make us t make us ““paypay””

•• SurgicalSurgical•• Hit the targetsHit the targets……and only the targetsand only the targets•• Limited Collateral Damage and CasualtiesLimited Collateral Damage and Casualties

TACTICAL(you can’t hide)

•• Innovative Innovative ““Tank PlinkingTank Plinking””•• Tanks vulnerableTanks vulnerable……Iraqis buried themIraqis buried them•• FF--111 found them with infrared sensors111 found them with infrared sensors•• One 500 lb laser bomb = 1 tankOne 500 lb laser bomb = 1 tank

•• Iraqi fightersIraqi fighters……if you fly, you dieif you fly, you die•• Hid in Hid in ““hardenedhardened”” sheltersshelters•• One laser bomb = 1 planeOne laser bomb = 1 plane