Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The U.S.-led coalition launched air operations on January 16, 1991, and Kuwait was liberated by February 28. GPS-guided munitions, stealth aircraft, and real-time satellite intelligence performed beyond expectations. The revolution in military affairs stopped being theoretical.
Why it mattersDesert Storm fundamentally reshaped how the U.S. military thought about warfare — validating precision strike, joint operations, and the integration of space-based assets in ways that would define American defense investment for decades.