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From: shirriff@sprite.Berkeley.EDU (Ken Shirriff)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Air losses in the Gulf
Message-ID: <1991Apr5.092319.8655@amd.com>
Date: 4 Apr 91 22:59:36 GMT
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
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Approved: military@amd.com



From: shirriff@sprite.Berkeley.EDU (Ken Shirriff)

A  main reason for low Allied air losses is that the Iraqi air defenses
were very poor, as was shown in the Iran-Iraq war.  A few quotes from
"The Gulf and the Search for Strategic Stability" (A. Cordesman, 1984)
make this clear:

"Neither side [Iran, Iraq] has shown much proficiency in sophisticated
air defense.  The Iranians discovered early in the war that small,
low-flying F-4 formations could strike virtually at will anywhere
in Iraq.  It is clear that Iran was able to fly under [Iraqi
defenses] and outmaneuver them without extensive use of sophisticated
electronic countermeasures.

"There is no doubt that the Iraqis -- all public claims to the contrary --
are deeply unhappy about the quality of the air defense radars and C3I
systems they bought from the USSR.

"It would seem that Iraq has bought the SA-2, SA-3, and SA-6 without
getting the technical help, C3I links, sensors, and siting assistance to
really make them effective.

"The Iraqis have been forced to rely on earth mounds, other passive defenses
such as barrage balloons, and AA guns to protect their cities, oil
facilities, industries, and other rear installations.

Ken Shirriff				shirriff@sprite.Berkeley.EDU