Since 1947, the Canadian Armed Forces have completed 72 international missions. More than 3,600 soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel are deployed overseas on operational missions. On any given day, about 8,000 Canadian Armed Forces members Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, and Canadian Army (one-third of the Canadian deployable force) are preparing for, engaged in or are returning from an overseas mission.
Below is a list of all currently active and past Canadian Armed Forces operations both within Canada's borders and internationally.[1]
Current and recurring operations
This section consists of Canadian Forces operations which are currently active, or conducted annually or on a periodic basis.
Domestic
Operation Driftnet – In support of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Multinational efforts to control driftnetting and other forms of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing in the North Pacific Ocean.[2][3]
Operation LENTUS – Contingency plan that outlines the joint response to provide support for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) to provincial and territorial authorities in the case of a major natural disaster that overwhelms their capacity to respond.[2][4][5]
Operation Limpid – Routine domestic surveillance of Canadian air, maritime, land, space, and cyber domains as well as presence in Canada's aerial, maritime and land approaches in order to detect, deter, prevent, pre-empt and defeat threats aimed at Canada or Canadian interests.[2][6]
Operation Nanook – To assert Canada's sovereignty over its northernmost regions, to enhance the Canadian Armed Forces' ability to operate in Arctic conditions, to improve coordination in whole-of-government operations, and to maintain interoperability with mission partners for maximum effectiveness in response to safety and security issues in the North.[2][7]
Operation Nevus – To perform essential preventive and corrective maintenance on the High Arctic Data Communications System (HADCS) located on Ellesmere Island.[2][8]
Operation Nunalivut – To assert Canada's sovereignty over its northernmost regions, to demonstrate the ability to operate in the harsh winter environment in remote areas of the High Arctic, and to enhance its capability to respond to any situation in the Canada's North.[2][9]
Operation Nunakput – To assert Canada's sovereignty over its northernmost regions, to enhance the Canadian Armed Forces' ability to operate in Arctic conditions, to improve coordination and cooperation in whole-of-government operations, and to maintain interoperability with mission partners for maximum effectiveness in response to safety and security issues in the North.[2][10]
Operation Palaci – Contribution to Parks Canada's avalanche-control program in Rogers Pass. To prevent uncontrolled, naturally occurring avalanches, and thus prevent blockage of the essential road and rail links between coastal British Columbia and the rest of Canada.[2][11]
Operation Crocodile – Military contribution to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[13][15]
Operation Saturn – To serve with UNAMID, the hybrid operation by the African Union (A.U.) and the United Nations in Darfur.[13][16]
Operation Soprano – Participation in the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), the military component of a "whole-of-government" engagement in South Sudan that also includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[13][17]
Operation Sirona – Military component of the Canadian whole-of-government contribution to fighting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel will augment efforts undertaken by the United Kingdom to combat the spread of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone.[18]
At sea
Operation Caribbe – Multinational campaign against illicit trafficking by transnational organized crime in the Caribbean basin and the eastern Pacific Ocean.[2][19]
Operation Artemis – Participation in counter-terrorism and maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea.[13][20]
Operation Projection - Royal Canadian Navy operations in the Asia-Pacific, Euro-Atlantic and African maritime environment in support of NATO Maritime Command, U.S. Naval Forces, and other allied operations.[21]
Middle East
Operation Jade – Contribution to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in the Middle East[13][22]
Operation Gladius – Latest stage of Canada's long-standing participation in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria.[13][23]
Operation Calumet – Canada's participation in the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), an independent peacekeeping operation in the Sinai Peninsula.[13][24]
Operation Metric – Periodic participation in international efforts to enhance security in the eastern Mediterranean region, specifically the Middle East and North Africa.[25][26]
Operation Proteus – Canada's contribution to the Office of the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) in Jerusalem.[13][27]
Operation Foundation – Contribution of headquarters and liaison staff to United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) to support operations in its area of responsibility, which extends from Egypt to Pakistan and includes the Middle East and southwest Asia. Supports Canada's efforts in the Middle East and southwest Asia, and promotes Canadian values through regular presence and exchange with military allies, foreign armed forces, and governments in the USCENTCOM area of responsibility.[13][28]
Operation Impact – Canada's contribution to the US-led international coalition against ISIS.
Europe
Operation Kobold – Deployment to Pristina, Kosovo, to serve with the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR).[13][29]
Operation Ignition – Periodic participation in the NATO – Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to Meet Iceland's Peacetime Preparedness Needs mission. This is an operation conducted to monitor Iceland's airspace and enforce security if required. Contributes to the security of Canadian airspace by monitoring and controlling air traffic in the northeastern approaches to North America.[25][30]
Operation Unifier – Contribution to support Ukrainian forces through capacity building, in coordination with the U.S. and other countries providing similar training assistance.[33]
Worldwide
Operation GLOBE - The Canadian Armed Forces's commitment to active engagement abroad. Allowed the opportunity to work alongside personnel from other government departments, as well as other nations. Currently used for deployments related to the COVID-19 pandemic abroad repatriating Canadians overseas, and United Nations-related transportation of humanitarian and food supplies on behalf of the World Food Programme and World Health Organization.[34]
Past operations
This section consists of Canadian Forces operations that are no longer active or on-going on an annual or periodic basis and are deemed complete.
Operation Force (Assistance for 2011 Ontario Forest Fires)
Operation Forge (2011 assistance to local authorities in Northwestern Ontario evacuating residents threatened by forest fires)
Operation Lama (2010 assistance to southern and eastern Newfoundland following Hurricane Igor)
Operation Lentus 13-01 (2013 CAF response to Request for Assistance from the Province of Alberta for help with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations)
Operation Lentus 14-05: (2014 Assistance to the Province of Manitoba following flooding)
Operation Lentus 14-03: Northern Ontario
Operation Lentus 14-02: Northern Ontario
Operation Lentus 14-02: Northern Ontario
Operation Lentus 15-02: Northern Saskatchewan
Operation Lentus 15-01: Kashechewan, Ontario
Operation Lentus 16-01: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Operation Lentus 17-01: Western Canada
Operation Lentus 17-02: Manitoba
Operation Lentus 17-03: Quebec and Newfoundland
Operation Lentus 17-02: Kashechewan, Ontario
Operation Lentus 17-01: New Brunswick
Operation Lentus 18-01 - Kashechewan Floods
Operation Lentus 18-02 - New Brunswick Floods
Operation Lentus 18-03 - BC Wild Fires
Operation Lentus 18-04 - Manitoba Wild Fires
Operation Lentus 18-05 - BC Wild Fires
Operation Lentus 19-01: Nova Scotia Hurricane Dorian Relief
Operation Lentus 19-02: Pikangikum First Nation Evacuations
Operation Lentus 19-03: New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario Floods
This section covers past Canadian Forces operations that took place beyond Canada's borders. It includes peacekeeping operations as well as those through NATO and in participation with other allies.
Americas and Caribbean
Operation Abalone (Provide medical treatment and assist with public health concerns on the island of St. Vincent in 1979)[35]
Operation Bandit (Evacuate Canadians in 1988 from Haiti following aborted elections in Haiti in 1987)[36]
Operation Cadence (Monitor the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti in 1994)[37]
Operation Safari - Operation SAFARI was Canada's participation in the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). As such, it was the military component of the Canadian whole-of-government engagement in southern Sudan, which involved the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Task Force Sudan, the Canadian Forces team deployed on Operation SAFARI, was the Canadian contingent in UNMIS. At its peak, Task Force Sudan comprised 30 Canadian Forces members, including 20 serving as United Nations Military Observers (UNMOs) at team sites across southern Sudan, eight on the staff at UNMIS Headquarters in Khartoum, and three with the Canadian support element in Khartoum.[52]
Operation Sculpture (Canadian contribution to the IMATT mission in Sierra Leone from 2000 – 2012)[53]
Operation Serval (Supported France's Operation SERVAL, which is their military intervention in the West African country of Mali.)[25][54]
Operation Chaperon – Canadian contribution to United Nations Military Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) from February 1996 to September 2001
Operation Echo – Canadian CF-18 deployment to Italy in support of the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR) and Kosovo Force (KFOR) from June 1998 to December 2000
Operation Apollo – Operations in support of the United States in its military operations in Afghanistan. The operation took place from October 2001 to October 2003
Operation Argus – Strategic Advisory Team Afghanistan (SAT‑A) from September 2005 to August 2008
Operation Augmentation (Canadian naval deployments in support of enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq in the Persian Gulf from June 1999 to October 2001)
Operation Prevention (Canadian naval deployment from February to August 1997 in support of multinational Maritime Interception Force in the Persian Gulf to monitor and enforce various UN Security Council resolutions concerning the import and export of Iraqi commodities, including oil.[59]
^Defence, Government of Canada, National (13 December 2018). "Operation SIRONA". www.forces.gc.ca.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Operation CARIBBE". Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
^"Operation ARTEMIS". Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
^Defence, National (22 February 2018). "Operation PROJECTION". aem. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
^"Op AUGURAL". Department of National Defence/Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
^"Op BRONZE". Department of National Defence/Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. 19 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
^"Op QUADRANT". Department of National Defence/Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
^"Op SEXTANT". Department of National Defence/Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
^"Op ALTAIR". Department of National Defence/Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. 20 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
