"Air Campaign of the Decade" 2000 – 2010

The chapter of 1990s was defined by Op Desert Storm followed by Operation Allied Force. Both wars proved PGMs, stealth, BVR and AEW concepts. Both also saw significant air to air combat, largely in favour of western fighters.

But what about the 2000s? Candidates:

1. Op Enduring Freedom – 2001/2002.

2. Op Iraqi Freedom – invasion and counter insurgency

3. UAV air strikes in Pakistan and Afghanistan “Rise of the Machines”

4. IDF/AF operations in Lebanon (Cast Lead) and Gaza (2009)

5. Enduring Freedom – helicopter operations by British chinooks

6. Georgia – where the Russian air force saw a botched action with multiple lossess to enemy air defences

Enduring Freedom confirmed air power’s dominance on the battefield, but Cast Lead showed its limitations. Unfortunately, the decade has been marked with almost zero air to air combat.

In my opinion, the drone strikes clearly show the (disturbing?) future, though my single “favorite” operation is IDF attack on Al-Kibar Facility.