List of Canadian military operations


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 are preparing for, engaged in or are returning from an overseas mission.
Canada's peacekeeping role during the 20th century has played a major role in its positive global image. Canada has served in over 50 peacekeeping missions. Canada has long been reluctant to participate in military operations that are not sanctioned by the United Nations, such as the Vietnam War or the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Canada has faced controversy over its operations in some foreign countries, notably the 1993 Somalia affair.
Since the 21st century, Canadian direct participation in UN peacekeeping efforts greatly declined, with its military participation reallocated to UN-sanctioned operations through the List of [NATO operations|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]. This military reallocation resulted in a shift towards more militarized and deadly missions. Canada's participation in the Afghanistan war saw over 160 Canadian deaths, the largest for any single Canadian military mission since the Korean War in the early 1950s.
Alongside many domestic obligations and a few ongoing peacekeeping missions, the Canadian Armed Forces are currently deployed in multiple foreign military operation. Below is a list of all currently active and past Canadian Armed Forces operations both within Canada's borders and internationally.

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.
  • Operation LASER - Domestic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Operation LENTUS – Contingency plan that outlines the joint response to provide support for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response to provincial and territorial authorities in the case of a major natural disaster that overwhelms their capacity to respond.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Operation Nevus – To perform essential preventive and corrective maintenance on the High Arctic Data Communications System located on Ellesmere Island.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Operation Sabot – Marijuana-eradication program conducted annually with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Foreign

Americas

Africa

Asia

At sea

Middle East

Europe

  • Operation Kobold – Deployment to Pristina, Kosovo, to serve with the NATO-led Kosovo Force.
  • 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.
  • Operation Reassurance – Deployment in Central and Eastern Europe as part of NATO reassurance measures.
  • Operation Snowgoose – Contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
  • Operation Unifier – Contribution to support Ukrainian forces through capacity building, in coordination with the U.S. and other countries providing similar training assistance.

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.

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.

Domestic

International

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

Africa

Europe, Balkans and Mediterranean

South Asia

Southeast Asia

Southwest Asia and Middle East