British Military Aviation in 1990

10 May
Flight Lieutenants Julie Ann Gibson and Sally Cox become the first female pilots to fly solo in Royal Air Force (RAF) jet aircraft. Both officers flew Jet Provosts as part of their flying training at No.1 Flying Training School, RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

9 August
Following the invasion and occupation of Kuwait by Iraqi forces on 2 August, a request for security assistance is issued by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia to friendly governments on 6 August. In response, the President of the United States of America, George Bush, immediately initiated the deployment of United States forces to Saudi Arabia (Operation Desert Shield).

The Secretary of State for Defence, announces the immanent despatch of twelve Panavia Tornado F3 fighters and twelve SEPECAT Jaguar GR1A ground attack aircraft to Saudi Arabia. RAF Lockheed Hercules and Lockheed Tristar aircraft began to transport support personnel and equipment to the Saudi airfield at Dhahran.

11 August
Following the British Government's decision to commit British forces in support of Saudi Arabia, Royal Air Force combat aircraft begin to deploy to the Gulf.

11 August
Twelve Panavia Tornado F3s drawn from No.5 and No.29 Squadrons attending an Armament Practice Camp at RAF Akrotiri are deployed to Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. This composite deployment was subsequently designated No.5 (Composite) Squadron.

11 August
Twelve SEPECAT Jaguar GR1As drawn from the Coltishall Wing (Nos. 6, 41 and 54 Squadrons RAF), with personnel from the Coltishall Wing and No.229 Operational Conversion Unit, leave the United Kingdom en route to Thumrait in Oman, arriving at the latter on 13 August.

11 August
Two British Aerospace (BAe) VC10 tankers of No.101 Squadron are despatched to Seeb in Oman, to support Royal Air Force detachments in the Gulf area.

13 August
A detachment of three British Aerospace (BAe) Nimrod MR2 maritime reconnaissance aircraft arrive at Seeb in Oman in order to support coalition naval forces in the Persian Gulf.

27-29 August
The first Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado GR1 detachment is deployed from RAF Germany to Muharraqin Bahrain. Subsequently, further Tornado GR1 detachments were established at Tabuk on 8 October 1990 and Dharan on 3 January 1991.

7-10 October
The Royal Air Force's SEPECAT Jaguar detachment redeploys from Thumrait in Oman to Muharraq in Bahrain.

1 November
A Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Transport Detachment (ATD), consisting of Lockheed Hercules drawn from the Lyneham Wing (Nos. 24, 30, 47 and 70 Squadrons RAF and No.242 Operational Conversion Unit) is established at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. This detachment was supplemented from 23 December 1990 by Hercules drawn from No.40 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force.

14 December
A detachment of four Handley Page Victor K2 tankers of No.55 Squadron is deployed from RAF Marham to Muharraq in Bahrain. This detachment would subsequently be increased to a maximum of eight aircraft during January 1991.