In the aftermath of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the subsequent coalition ouster of the Iraqis, the Kuwaitis began a major force structure revitalization effort under a $12 billion program. In many ways the Kuwaitis had no choice, since they suffered heavy equipment losses during the invasion, and then the Iraqis looted of much of the remaining equipment and brought it back to Iraq. The Kuwaiti defense minister was quoted as saying his country's Air Force lost 14 aircraft, including Mirage F-1 fighters, A-4KU Skyhawk fighter bombers, BAE Hawks, Lockheed transports, and helicopters, as well as HAWK antiaircraft missiles.
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