Eagle3
04-09-03, 10:01 PM
Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedon - Comparisons and Contrasts (http://www.military.com/NewContent?file=Fox_033003)
One of the most frequent questions I'm asked is "How does Iraqi Freedom compare to Desert Storm?"
Although today's Hornets and Tomcats look virtually the same as the ones we flew in Desert Storm 12 years ago, there are significant differences that make today's jets far more effective and capable in combat.
First, all 46 strike fighters on the flight decks of today's aircraft carriers are capable of employing precision guided munitions - laser guided bombs (LGBs) and GPS guided weapons. In 1991, only the A-6 Intruder was capable of delivering LGBs. The vast majority of the bombs we dropped in Desert Storm were in fact, unguided 'dumb' bombs.
Of note, the F-14 has evolved into a first class Strike Fighter since 1991. The Desert Storm Tomcats did not expend any air-to-ground ordnance during that conflict because the 1991 Tomcat had no air-to-ground capability. The fighter community had focused on the air-to-air interceptor/fighter mission during the Cold War. With the Soviet threat removed, the retirement of the A-6 Intruder, and the lessons learned from Desert Storm, the Tomcat community embraced the 'strike' or air-to ground mission. The addition of the LANTIRN targeting pod, which gives the F-14 the ability to deliver a Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) as well as a extensive effort in training Tomcat aircrew to serve as Forward Air Controllers (Airborne) - FAC(A) has kept the Tomcat at the cutting edge of Naval Aviation's ability to project power and support our soldiers and Marines.
In particular, the emergence of GPS-guided weapons - the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), has dramatically changed how we plan and execute strikes today.
In 1991, we talked about how many sorties it would take to destroy a target; today, we talk about how many targets we can destroy on one sortie. It is a revolutionary change. It means you can effectively attack a significantly greater number of targets in a much shorter period of time, effectively reducing the time your aircraft are exposed to the threat.
A flight of five Air Wing 2 Hornets recently dropped 15 JDAMs on 15 different aimpoints at a sprawling Iraqi target at night - hitting all planned aimpoints - in one strike. In Desert Storm, it would have taken multiple waves of A-6 attackers to accomplish the same thing, with much greater exposure and risk.
Although the airplanes have improved and are impressive, I can't finish this update without specifically acknowledging the incredible contribution of the young folks who are working so incredibly hard out here in the fleet to make these airplanes fly.
If you drive a fancy car, say a Porsche or Corvette, and you drove into valet parking, and saw one of my young plane captains come out to drive your car up into the parking garage.... you might hesitate to give them your keys. Young, hardened, hardworking men who carry chains over their shoulders and make sure the aircraft are ready for the next flight regardless of the conditions - blazing hot or freezing cold, night or day, rain or shine..... while you might hesitate to give them your keys, we trust them to take care of $50 million aircraft on a daily basis.
Back in the late 80's, when the Soviet Union was still intact, a group of senior Soviet military officers visited an American aircraft carrier at sea. Although clearly impressed with the technology and teamwork of launching and recovering aircraft, do you know what impressed them most? The fact that we trust enlisted men with the officer's lives. They could not believe it, and thought we had arranged this specifically for their visit. When a young troubleshooter gave a 'thumbs down' preventing the aircraft from launching, the Soviet military officers could not believe he was not a warrant officer or senior enlisted.
What's our secret weapon in this war? American Sailors and Marines - and all the other young men and women who volunteered to serve in the United States Military - but it's really no secret at all.
They are free people who have chosen to serve our country, putting the well-being of our nation - which in their minds is their neighbors, families and friends - far ahead of their own comforts and immediate desires.
This is a meaningful time to serve in the U.S. Military.
One of the most frequent questions I'm asked is "How does Iraqi Freedom compare to Desert Storm?"
Although today's Hornets and Tomcats look virtually the same as the ones we flew in Desert Storm 12 years ago, there are significant differences that make today's jets far more effective and capable in combat.
First, all 46 strike fighters on the flight decks of today's aircraft carriers are capable of employing precision guided munitions - laser guided bombs (LGBs) and GPS guided weapons. In 1991, only the A-6 Intruder was capable of delivering LGBs. The vast majority of the bombs we dropped in Desert Storm were in fact, unguided 'dumb' bombs.
Of note, the F-14 has evolved into a first class Strike Fighter since 1991. The Desert Storm Tomcats did not expend any air-to-ground ordnance during that conflict because the 1991 Tomcat had no air-to-ground capability. The fighter community had focused on the air-to-air interceptor/fighter mission during the Cold War. With the Soviet threat removed, the retirement of the A-6 Intruder, and the lessons learned from Desert Storm, the Tomcat community embraced the 'strike' or air-to ground mission. The addition of the LANTIRN targeting pod, which gives the F-14 the ability to deliver a Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) as well as a extensive effort in training Tomcat aircrew to serve as Forward Air Controllers (Airborne) - FAC(A) has kept the Tomcat at the cutting edge of Naval Aviation's ability to project power and support our soldiers and Marines.
In particular, the emergence of GPS-guided weapons - the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), has dramatically changed how we plan and execute strikes today.
In 1991, we talked about how many sorties it would take to destroy a target; today, we talk about how many targets we can destroy on one sortie. It is a revolutionary change. It means you can effectively attack a significantly greater number of targets in a much shorter period of time, effectively reducing the time your aircraft are exposed to the threat.
A flight of five Air Wing 2 Hornets recently dropped 15 JDAMs on 15 different aimpoints at a sprawling Iraqi target at night - hitting all planned aimpoints - in one strike. In Desert Storm, it would have taken multiple waves of A-6 attackers to accomplish the same thing, with much greater exposure and risk.
Although the airplanes have improved and are impressive, I can't finish this update without specifically acknowledging the incredible contribution of the young folks who are working so incredibly hard out here in the fleet to make these airplanes fly.
If you drive a fancy car, say a Porsche or Corvette, and you drove into valet parking, and saw one of my young plane captains come out to drive your car up into the parking garage.... you might hesitate to give them your keys. Young, hardened, hardworking men who carry chains over their shoulders and make sure the aircraft are ready for the next flight regardless of the conditions - blazing hot or freezing cold, night or day, rain or shine..... while you might hesitate to give them your keys, we trust them to take care of $50 million aircraft on a daily basis.
Back in the late 80's, when the Soviet Union was still intact, a group of senior Soviet military officers visited an American aircraft carrier at sea. Although clearly impressed with the technology and teamwork of launching and recovering aircraft, do you know what impressed them most? The fact that we trust enlisted men with the officer's lives. They could not believe it, and thought we had arranged this specifically for their visit. When a young troubleshooter gave a 'thumbs down' preventing the aircraft from launching, the Soviet military officers could not believe he was not a warrant officer or senior enlisted.
What's our secret weapon in this war? American Sailors and Marines - and all the other young men and women who volunteered to serve in the United States Military - but it's really no secret at all.
They are free people who have chosen to serve our country, putting the well-being of our nation - which in their minds is their neighbors, families and friends - far ahead of their own comforts and immediate desires.
This is a meaningful time to serve in the U.S. Military.