OverviewUnderstand the causes, outcome and impact of Operation

Desert StormUnderstand how military aviation and national defense strategy

fundamental changed as the result of Operation Desert Storm

Classroom Exercise

What Everyone Didn’t KnowThe success of Operation Desert Storm’s air campaign was a

culmination of a shift in airpower strategy enabled not only by precision weapons, but the very nature in which airpower was organized, planned and even led. Development of the Joint Force Air Component Commander Development of the Air Tasking Order

Air Tasking Order (ATO)The JFACC's overall strategy for the air campaign was set forth in

the Master Attack Plan (MAP) – the daily strategy or “schedule” was the ATO

Weapon system experts from across the JFACC staff worked together with coalition partners, intelligence, logistics, and weather experts to outline every part of an aircraft’s flight – from take-off to landing.

Air Tasking Order (ATO)

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4…

Boyd’s OODA Loop on Steroids?

Simultaneously

Type of Aircraft, Take-off and Land Time

Call Sign: Oderon

Target Location, Time Over Target, Weapons UsedAir Refueling Plan and Support Plan

War Tonnage /Length / Tonnage Per Month WW II: 2,150,000 / 45 months / 47,777.78 Korea: 454,000 / 37 months / 12,270.27 Vietnam: 6,162,000 / 140 months / 44,014.29 Gulf War: 60,624 / 1.5 months / 40,416.00

Impact of the Air Campaign Operation Desert Storm’

Commanders identified the Iraqi Republican Guard as a vital target.

Not every Republican Guard division was hit equally hard; those in the path of the planned Coalition ground forces received the brunt of the attacks.

The CENTCOM Commander directed that comparatively greater damage be inflicted on the front-line forces to reduce Coalition ground forces' casualties.

Lessons LearnedHigh Tech Precision Weapons enabled a revolution in military

strategy, but changes in command, strategy, organization and joint/coalition cooperation is what made the revolution work

When airpower works it can have a very powerful effect, sometimes not always what was anticipated

Airpower took its place as a dominate part of warfare, but it must be part of a overall comprehensive strategy to truly be effective

Keep the last lesson in mind as we look at Bosnia and Kosovo later