Which operation illustrated the importance of air superiority?

The operation that illustrated the importance of air superiority most significantly is Operation Desert Storm. During this conflict, which took place in the early 1990s, the coalition forces focused heavily on achieving and maintaining control of the airspace over Iraq. This was a fundamental component of the operation because air superiority allowed coalition forces to conduct bombing campaigns with minimal interference from enemy aircraft and significantly weakened the enemy’s ground forces and supply lines.

The successful establishment of air superiority was crucial in setting the stage for ground operations. It enabled surveillance, reconnaissance, and the targeting of key strategic sites, thus crippling the Iraqi military capabilities before and during the ground offensive. The effectiveness of airpower in this operation became a key factor in the rapid and decisive victory of coalition forces, demonstrating how control of airspace can directly influence the outcome of military engagements.