Twenty-five years ago today, President George H.W. Bush announced the execution of Operation Desert Storm. It was not only a historical geopolitical moment that changed the course of human events but it is widely seen as the wide-scale introduction of modern “smart” warfare driven by miniaturized computer technology and reliance on precision air power.

Desert Storm’s goal was to expel Iraqi forces from neighboring Kuwait, which Saddam Hussein’s military had invaded months before. The U.N. had put forth the deadline of Jan. 15 for Iraq to withdrawal from Kuwait, which was never adhered to. As a result, the U.S. and its broad coalition began an air campaign against Iraq—the likes of which the world had never seen.

Over five weeks coalition aircraft rained weaponry down from skies over Iraq and Kuwait. Then ground forces stormed across the deserts of Saudi Arabia and into Kuwait and Iraq. Just just over four days after beginning the ground assault, Iraq capitulated and a ceasefire was agreed to.

The war was a supernova-like event for the U.S. military, a big capstone showcase of advanced American combat capabilities that were acquired in the last stretch of the Cold War. Yet Desert Storm’s fairy tale-like execution clearly misled future power players as to the limits of air power and the danger of large-scale ground engagements.

Then Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Collin Powell reflects on Desert Storm in this recent CBS interview:

Here is a glance at Desert Storm “by the numbers”:

39 countries, of which 28 contributed combat forces

Approximately 670,000 troops from 28 countries, 425,000 of which were from the United States.

2,250 combat aircraft, 1,800 of which were American

Estimated $61 billion dollars of which Gulf States covered $36 billion while Germany and Japan covered $16 billion

147

145

100,000+

26

70,000+

75 total, 63 U.S. and 12 allied

: 42

81

137

610

Up to 11 million barrels

100,000+

88,500

297 Tomahawks plus 35 CALCMs

1,332

509,129 passengers and 594,730 tons of cargo carried

3,700 out of 4,280 in inventory

$14 billion

81

6

15,434 sorties and dispensed 110.2 million gallons of fuel

782,514

174

2,039

210,004 of which 39.336 were cluster munitions

9,342

5,930 (excludes those fired by the U.S. Army)

39 days

100 hours

We will be featuring posts about Desert Storm all week to mark this anniversary.

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Photos via DoD archive/wikicommons