If the deterrent effect was not achieved, expanding the no-fly zone would be asking for trouble.
With only 6 tactical squadrons, totaling a mere 48 fighters, even an all-out effort might not fare well against the Iraqi Air Force, which possessed over 600 fighters.
According to the simulations conducted yesterday, if the Iraqi Air Force was determined, they would only need two large-scale assaults to overwhelm the Empire's air defenses.
Even though the Iraqi Air Force would suffer heavy losses, the Iraqi Army's Armored Forces could then advance to the south of the border line without significant threats, and with hundreds of tanks, drown the Marine Corps' two Armored Battalions.
Strategic bombing wouldn't make much of a difference.
Due to the lack of fighter cover, the bombers stationed at Diego Base could only launch cruise missiles from afar.
Setting aside whether the Empire Air Force had enough cruise missiles, even if they did, the strike efficiency wouldn't be high.
