The Persian Gulf WarThe Persian Gulf War

Operation DESERT STORM

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OverviewOverview

Background to the Conflict• Iraqi threats

The Plan of Attack• Concept of Operations• Five Strategic Rings• Targets• Campaign Overview

Video Clip

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BackgroundBackground

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US ObjectivesUS 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

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Operation Desert ShieldOperation 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 82nd Airborne Division• Equal Iraqi force by first 35 days

Air Reserves/Air National Guard called to active duty

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Iraqi ThreatIraqi Threat

- 4th largest armed force in WORLD

- Nuclear, Biological, Chemical

- Scud Missiles

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Air Defense ThreatAir 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

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The Plan of The Plan of AttackAttack

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ObjectivesObjectives

- Isolate & incapacitate Iraqi command

structure

- Win Air Superiority

- Destroy Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical

Capability

- Eliminate Iraqi Offensive Military Capability

- Eject Iraqi Army from Kuwait

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Concept Of OperationsConcept 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

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Instant ThunderInstant 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

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The Five Strategic The Five Strategic RingsRings

Fielded Military Forces

National Population

National Infrastructure

Key Production/Organic Essentials

National Leadership

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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 distrution and storage not pro-uction 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

Target SystemsTarget Systems

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Campaign OverviewCampaign 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

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And in the End…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

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““Beyond the Wild Beyond the Wild Blue”Blue”VideoVideo

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SummarySummary

Background to the Conflict• Iraqi threats

The Plan of Attack• Concept of Operations• Five Strategic Rings• Targets• Campaign Overview