The F-16’s Desert Storm exploits—minimal losses (losing only three to enemy fire), and billions in damage inflicted on Saddam Hussein’s regime—cemented its status as a warfighting icon.
The roar of the jet engines piercing the night sky over Iraq marked the dawn of a new era in aerial warfare. Those jet engines belonged to the United States Air Force, and the war they were waging was “Operation Desert Storm” in January 1991. At the heart of the Coalition’s air campaign against Saddam Hussein’s occupation of neighboring Kuwait was the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a plane that may very well be the most versatile multirole fighter that ever flew for the Air Force.
Deployed in massive numbers, the F-16 flew an astonishing 13,340 sorties—the highest of any aircraft in the conflict—delivering devastating blows to Saddam Hussein’s forces while suffering minimal losses.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 1978
- Number Built: 4,600+
- Length: 49 ft 5 in (15 m)
- Height: 16 ft (5 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (10 m)
- Weight: 42,300 lb (19,187 kg) MTOW
- Engines: One General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan engine (Block 50 aircraft)
- Top Speed: Mach 2.05, 1,176 knots (1,353 mph, 2,178 km/h)
- Range: 295 nmi (339 mi, 546 km) combat range
- Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Loadout: One 20mm M61A1 Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon; 11 hardpoints; can carry 17,000 lb (7,700 kg) munitions
- Aircrew: 1
The F-16 Fighter’s History
Born from the Lightweight Fighter Program in the 1970s, the F-16 was designed as a cost-effective, high-performance day fighter. By the Gulf War, Block 30 F-16Cs equipped with LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) pods had transformed into formidable night-attack platforms.
The US Air Force alone deployed 249 F-16s, generating up to 400 sorties daily with a 25 percent strike rate. These “Vipers” excelled in close air support (CAS), suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and interdiction missions, leveraging AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided bombs for pinpoint accuracy.
The F-16s success stemmed from its fly-by-wire controls, allowing pilots to evade threats while maintaining stability under heavy G-forces.
In Desert Storm, from January 17 to February 28, 1991, F-16s dismantled Iraq’s integrated air defense system, destroyed armored columns, and neutralized command infrastructure. Yet it was in specific high-stakes missions that the F-16’s mettle was truly tested and proven.
One Audacious Mission Proved the F-16’s Worth
One of the most audacious undertakings was the “Package Q” strike on January 19, 1991, the largest operational F-16 mission ever executed. Dubbed the “Baghdad Express,” this massive raid involved 56 F-16s from the 388th and 401st Tactical Fighter Wings, supported by F-15 escorts, F-4 Wild Weasels, and EF-111 Jammers—totaling 79 aircraft in a single package.
Their objective was to pulverize the heart of Baghdad, targeting the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center and Republican Guard headquarters to decapitate Iraqi leadership and degrade nuclear ambitions.
Loaded with Mk-84 2,000-pound bombs, external tanks, and AIM-9 Sidewinders, the F-16s braved the world’s densest air defenses—thousands of SAMs, AAA guns, and MiG patrols. Challenges abounded: poor weather delayed refueling, faulty Wild Weasel HARMs left enemy radars active, and last-minute target changes sowed confusion. Amid the chaos, Major Emmett “E.T.” Tullia piloted his F-16 through a harrowing gauntlet, evading six SA-6 missiles in seconds via aggressive chaff bursts and high-G turns—captured in iconic HUD footage that became a testament to the power and resilience of the F-16.
Though two F-16s fell to surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) fired by Iraq, with the pilots captured as prisoners of war, the strike hit secondary targets like oil refineries, inflicting moderate damage.
Critically, Package Q exposed vulnerabilities in large-formation tactics, prompting shifts to stealthy F-117 strikes and smaller F-16 packages. This mission’s lessons refined the US-led coalition’s strategy, ensuring future dominance over Baghdad and underscoring the F-16’s adaptability in contested airspace.
The F-16 Was a Dedicated Scud-Hunter
Equally vital were the F-16’s relentless hunting of Iraqi Scud missile launchers, a desperate bid to counter Iraq’s terror bombing of Israel and Saudi Arabia. Launching from mobile TELs in western Iraq’s deserts, Scuds threatened Coalition unity by provoking Israeli retaliation. F-16s, alongside A-10 Warthogs and F-15E Strike Eagles, formed hunter-killer teams, flying thousands of sorties to interdict these elusive threats.
A standout example unfolded on January 18, when F-16s from the Fourth Tactical Fighter Wing pounced on a Scud convoy near the H-3 airfield. Using infrared targeting and Mavericks, pilots obliterated launchers and support vehicles, preventing an imminent firing.
Over the campaign, F-16s destroyed or damaged over 50 Scud-related targets, including fixed sites at Taji and mobile units in the Anbar badlands. Their night-vision prowess and rapid response—often within minutes of launch detections—kept Iraq’s Scud volleys to just 88, far below Hussein’s arsenal potential.
These missions demanded endurance. Pilots routinely logged 10-hour flights, dodging anti-aircraft weapons while coordinating with AWACS and special forces spotters. The F-16’s precision minimized civilian risks, proving decisive in stabilizing the front and averting broader escalation.
As the air phase transitioned to ground support, F-16s excelled at tank-plinking, shredding Iraq’s elite Republican Guard. In one February 24 mission, F-16s from the tenth TFS targeted the Tawakalna Division’s T-72s near 73 Easting, unleashing GBU-12 laser-guided bombs that vaporized over 100 Iraqi vehicles in hours. This CAS blitz softened defenses for the VII Corps’ thunder run, accelerating the 100-hour ground war.
The Fighting Falcon Secured America’s Victory over Iraq
The F-16’s Desert Storm exploits—minimal losses (losing only three to enemy fire), and billions in damage inflicted on Saddam Hussein’s regime—cemented its status as a warfighting icon. From Package Q’s bold gamble to the nighttime Scud hunts, these missions showcased the Viper’s blend of speed, smarts, and survivability.
Today, as F-16s evolve with AESA radars and other advances—all while the Air Force plans to retire these planes over the next two decades—Desert Storm reminds us that in the fog of war, versatility wins.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
