Fully illustrated, this study explores the technology, roles, and combat performance of Coalition airpower in the biggest air campaign of the early 21st century.
In 2003, a US-led Coalition invaded Iraq with the aim of overthrowing Saddam Hussain's regime. Just as it had in the 1991 Gulf War, airpower played a vital role. However, this war was very different to its predecessor and represented a new style of warfare: focused targeting with precision-guided munitions and close integration with land forces made air power particularly effective and efficient.
Airpower scholar and former RAF pilot Michael Napier explains how the 2003 air campaign was planned and fought. He describes the preparatory work that was carried out in the No Fly Zones before hostilities began, how the plan was changed at the last minute to attempt a decapitation of the Iraqi government, and how the campaign then developed to support both the advance of Anglo-American land forces and SOF operations against tactical ballistic missiles in the western desert. He analyses in detail the relationship between the conduct of air operations and progress on the battlefield during the three-week war.
Illustrated with dramatic artwork, 3D diagrams, maps and photos, this book assesses what made Iraq 2003 the textbook air campaign of the early 21st century.
| ISBN: | 9781472868053 |
| Publication date: | 26th March 2026 |
| Author: | Michael Napier |
| Illustrator: | Gareth Hector |
| Publisher: | Osprey Publishing an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 96 pages |
| Series: | Air Campaign |
| Genres: |
Military history: post-WW2 conflicts Air forces and warfare Battles and campaigns |
Fully illustrated, this study explores the technology, roles, and combat performance of Coalition airpower in the biggest air campaign of the early 21st century.
In 2003, a US-led Coalition invaded Iraq with the aim of overthrowing Saddam Hussain's regime. Just as it had in the 1991 Gulf War, airpower played a vital role. However, this war was very different to its predecessor and represented a new style of warfare: focused targeting with precision-guided munitions and close integration with land forces made air power particularly effective and efficient.
Airpower scholar and former RAF pilot Michael Napier explains how the 2003 air campaign was planned and fought. He describes the preparatory work that was carried out in the No Fly Zones before hostilities began, how the plan was changed at the last minute to attempt a decapitation of the Iraqi government, and how the campaign then developed to support both the advance of Anglo-American land forces and SOF operations against tactical ballistic missiles in the western desert. He analyses in detail the relationship between the conduct of air operations and progress on the battlefield during the three-week war.
Illustrated with dramatic artwork, 3D diagrams, maps and photos, this book assesses what made Iraq 2003 the textbook air campaign of the early 21st century.
Iraq 2003 features in the following genres: Military history: post-WW2 conflicts, Air forces and warfare, Battles and campaigns
Iraq 2003 is available in Paperback
Iraq 2003 was written by Michael Napier and published by Osprey Publishing an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
Iraq 2003 has 96 pages
Yes it is part of Air Campaign series
£15.29