INTSUM 222 VII CORPS 7 MAR 91

File: 121096_jul96_decls11_0005.txt
Page: 0005
Total Pages: 8

Subject: INTSUM 222  VII CORPS  7 MAR 91                                 

Unit: ARCENT      

Parent Organization: CENTCOM     

Box  ID: BX000437

Folder Title: COMMAND REPORTS - LNO TEAMS DELTA AND FOUR 3-9 MAR 91                                           

Document Number:         54

Folder Seq  #:          4


                             gh     UNCLASSIFIED                 5USC552(b)(1)










                  AIR ACTIVITY:
      A.       RECONSTITUTING THE IRAQI AIR FORCE WILL PROVE A
   DIFFICULT TASK. USCENTAF ESTIMATES THAT THE IRAQIS HAVE LOST 352
   FIGHTER-BOMBER AIRCRAFT (INCLUDING 112 IN IRAN) AND SEVEN
   BOMBERS. THIS AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 50% OF THEIR PREVIOUS OFFENSIVE-
   CAPABLE FORCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR FORCE'S INFRASTRUCTURE HAS
   SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. MAINTENANCE FACILITIES, HARDENED
   AIRCRAFT SHELTERS/BUNKERS (IIAS/HAB) AND COMMAND AND CONTROL
   FACILITIES WILL NEED CONSIDERABLE REPAIR WORK, PROBABLY REQUIRING
   YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH. IRAQPS CAPABILITY TO RECONSTITUTE AN
   OFFENSIVE AIRCRAFT FLEET WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON FOREIGN
   ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS THE RETURN OF THEIR COMBAT AIRCRAFT FROM
   IRAN--A PROSPECT WHICH PRESENTLY APPEARS REMOTE. NEVERTHELESS,
   IRAQ IS STILL CAPABLE OF PROVIDING A SUFFICIENT COUNTER-AIR
   DEFENSE, ASSUMING A CREDIBLE PILOT FORCE REMAINS INTACT.
   ADDITIONALLY, IRAQ CAN QUICKLY CONDUCT REPAIRS ON ITS AIRFIELDS,
   AND COULD HAVE SUFFICIENT OPERATING SURFACES IN A MATTER OF DAYS.
   THE MOST LIMITING FACTORS SHOULD BE AIRCRAFT SERVICEABILITY AND
   PARTS AVAILABILITY. IRAQ'S CAPABILITY TO MAINTAIN ITS MOST
   MODERN AIRCRAFT MAY BE DEGRADED FOR A SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER PERIOD
   THAN ITS OLDER AIRFRAMES. THIS IS PRIMARILY THE RESULT OF DAMAGE
   TO MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AND CONTINUING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.






                                      RUCTION OF THESE MAINTENANCE
   FACILITIES ON FUTURE IRAQI FLIGHT OPERATIONS WILL PROBABLY BECOME
   EVIDENT AS THE IRAQI AIR FORCE ATTEMPTS TO RESUME TRAINING
   OPERATIONS.
       B ---"I TiAS/HAB DESTRUCTION IS UNLIKELY TO SIGNIFICANTLY
   HAMPEI@E AIR FORCE'S EFFECTIVENESS, THOUGH TEMPORARY SHELTERS
   MAY HAVE TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT SOME BASES OR SOME SQUADRONS MAY
   HAVE TO BE TEMPORARILY REASSIGNED TO BASES WITH ADEQUATE
   SHELTERING UNTIL REPAIRS/RECONSTRUCTION CAN BE COMPLETED. MANY
ELTERS/BUNKERS COULD STILL BE USED TO PARTIALLY
   PROTECT AIRCRAFT. IRAQ WILL PROBABLY TRY TO PATCH MANY OF THE
   HABS IT HAS LEFT, ANTICIPATING A LONG WAIT UNTIL FOREIGN FIRMS
   CAN REBUILD THEM.
       C P       OMMAND AND CONTROL REGENERATION WILL UNDOUBTEDLY
   REQUII   ONSIDERABLE TIME. THE IRAQI AIR FORCE HAS BEEN
   DEMORALIZED AND WILL CERTAINLY BE UNDERGOING SOME CHANGES.
   SQUADRONS WILL HAVE TO BE RECONSTITUTED AND PROBABLY RESTRUCTURED
   TO ACCOUNT FOR THE DESTROYED AIRCRAFT. NEW FLIGHT OPERATIONS
   PROCEDURES WILL HAVE TO BE ESTABLISHED TO MAKE UP FOR THE
   DEGRADATION OF SECTOR AND INTERCEPTOR OPERATIONS CENTERS.
                                  UNCLASSIFIED                    5USC552(b)(1)

Document 8 f:/Week-30/BX000437/COMMAND REPORTS - LNO TEAMS DELTA AND FOUR 3-9 MAR 91/intsum 222 vii corps 7 mar 91:12069615463840
Control Fields 17
File Room = jul96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-30
Box ID = BX000437
Unit = ARCENT
Parent Organization = CENTCOM
Folder Title = COMMAND REPORTS - LNO TEAMS DELTA AND FOUR 3-9 MAR 91
Folder Seq # = 4
Subject = INTSUM 222 VII CORPS 7 MAR 91
Document Seq # = 54
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 06-DEC-1996