RAF Tornado Units of Gulf War I

During the Gulf Crisis in 1990, the RAF deployed Tornado F 3 and GR 1 strike/attack aircraft to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to defend against Iraqi aggression. The Tornado GR 1 wings conducted night-low-level attacks using JP233 runway denial weapons, while the Tornado F 3 wing ensured Saudi airspace integrity. The arrival of laser designation capability enabled precision attacks against the Iraqi transport system and airfield facilities. The Tornado F 3 wing at Dhahran carried out defensive counter-air operations to protect base areas. This book provides detailed first-hand accounts of the missions undertaken by the Tornado crews, illustrated with photographs and profile artworks.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

When the Gulf Crisis of 1990 erupted due to Iraqi forces invading Kuwait, the Royal Air Force (RAF) swiftly responded by deploying a contingent of Tornado F 3 fighters to Saudi Arabia. These aircraft were followed by the deployment of Tornado GR 1 strike/attack aircraft to Bahrain. Eventually, three wings of Tornado GR 1s were established in Bahrain, Tabuk, and Dhahran, along with a detachment of Tornado GR 1A reconnaissance aircraft. As the hostilities commenced in January 1991, the Tornado GR 1 wings launched night-low-level attacks against Iraqi Main Operating Bases utilizing the JP233 runway denial weapon. Simultaneously, Combat Air Patrols from the Tornado F 3 wing ensured the integrity of Saudi airspace. Once air supremacy was established, the Tornado GR 1 force transitioned to medium-level operations, initially by night and later by day, to target Iraqi oil production and storage infrastructure. The integration of laser designation capabilities with Pave Spike/Buccaneer and TIALD/Tornado allowed for precise attacks against the Iraqi transport system, cutting off frontline troops from resupply and reinforcement and subsequently facilitating a systematic destruction of airfield facilities. The Tornado GR 1A reconnaissance operations played a pivotal role in locating Scud missile launchers and in strategizing and executing the land offensive. Throughout the conflict, the Tornado F 3 wing stationed in Dhahran conducted defensive counter-air operations to safeguard the base areas.

This book, published 30 years after the conflict's resolution, offers in-depth firsthand accounts of the missions accomplished by the Tornado crews. It is adorned with photographs taken by aircrew participants in the operation and features 30 newly commissioned profile artworks.

Weight: 310g
Dimension: 185 x 247 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472845115