When US President Bush ordered his forces into Iraq in March 2003, the F-16CJ was the second aircraft to enter Iraqi airspace-proper, sweeping the skies for electrons in a bid to find, identify and kill Iraq's comprehensive air defence system. With the mission fulfilled, hordes of other coalition fighters followed, including the F-16CG, which was used with great success to strike fixed and mobile-ground targets. The Viper was also employed in the more conventional strike role too, bombing targets ranging from Baath party HQ buildings in Baghdad to Republican Guard T-72 tanks of the Medina division around An Najaf.

Illustrated by: Chris Davey