The Second Gulf War (Operation Telic/Iraqi Freedom) in 2003 cemented the shift towards precision warfare, heavily relying on key contributions from UK and Canadian air forces. The Royal Air Force (RAF) played a central role, deploying updated Tornado GR4 strike fighters which were vital for delivering advanced precision-guided weapons like the Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile for the first time in combat, alongside the versatile Harrier GR7 providing close air support.
Crucially, while Canadian forces did not participate in the 2003 invasion under the national Operation Iraqi Freedom banner, the multi-role Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-18 Hornets had been active in the region during the preceding Gulf War and subsequent enforcement of the Southern Watch no-fly zone, maintaining a visible allied presence and demonstrating the core utility of multi-role, expeditionary fighter fleets in securing coalition air superiority and establishing the conditions for ground operations.
