List of Royal Air Force operations

Last updated

This following list of Royal Air Force operations includes both national and multi-national operations, as well as joint and air-only operations that the Royal Air Force has participated in.

Contents

Current

NameFromToLocationNotes
Aluminium2022, FebPresent Poland & Romania UK contribution to NATO's response to the Ukraine-Russia Crisis. [1]
Azotize2014, AprilPresent Lithuania & Estonia [2] UK contribution to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. [3] [4]
Biloxi2017, AprilPresent Romania UK contribution to NATO's Southern Air Policing mission. [5] [6]
Broadshare 2020, JanuaryPresent British Overseas Territories & overseas military bases Military assistance to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic overseas.
Kipion 2011, JunePresent Oman, UAE, Qatar UK air presence in the Persian Gulf & Indian Ocean. [7]
Turus 2014Present Nigeria Training and supporting the Nigerian Armed Forces to help it counter violent extremists. [8]
Shader 26 September 2014PresentIraq & Syria, operating from RAF Akrotiri [9] Providing humanitarian aid airdrops, reconnaissance and airstrikes as part of the Military intervention against ISIL. [10]

Previous

NameFromToLocationNotes
Accolade RhodesCancelled, part of the Dodecanese campaign, World War II. [11]
Banner 1969, August2007, JulyNorthern IrelandMilitary support to the Royal Ulster Constabulary/Police Service of Northern Ireland
Bolton 19982003Southern IraqPart of Operation Southern Watch
Boomster 2018, March2018, MarchUnited KingdomMilitary Aid following extreme weather conditions [8]
Bushell1985, January1985, DecemberEthiopiaFamine relief
Chocolate12 November 194213 November 1942Part of the Western Desert Campaign, World War II. [12]
Coral2003, 14 June2003, 10 SeptemberDemocratic Republic of CongoHumanitarian operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Corporate 2 April 198214 June 1982Falkland IslandsPart of the Falklands War [13]
Decisive EdgeJanuary 1996December 1996Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia		Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [14]
Deliberate Force 30 August 199514 September 1995Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia		Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [14]
Deliberate GuardDecember 1996April 1998Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia		Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Formerly Op Decisive Edge. [14]
Deny Flight 12 April 199320 December 1995Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia		Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [14]
Ellamy 19 March 201131 October 2011LibyaPart of the 2011 military intervention in Libya
Engadine 19991999KosovoPart of NATO operations in Kosovo [15]
Fingal 1 January 20022002Afghanistan & AsiaPart of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) [16]
Fresco 20022003United KingdomMilitary support during the UK firefighters' dispute
Granby 1 October 1990March 1991Iraq & AsiaPart of the Gulf War
Gritrock 30 October 201413 November 2015West AfricaUK military contribution to the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa
Herrick 20 June 200212 December 2014Afghanistan & AsiaPart of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Highbrow 20062006Lebanon via CyprusUK military support to evacuation operation from Beirut. [17]
Jural 19921998Southern IraqPart of Operation Southern Watch
Khana CascadeMarch 1973March 1973NepalAirlift to villagers. [18]
LuminousAugust 2013November 2013CyprusProtection of UK Sovereign Base Areas [19]
MastererNovember 2019December 2019IcelandUK contribution to NATO's Icelandic Air Policing Mission [20] [21]
MaturinOctober 2005January 2006Pakistan and KashmirUK military contribution to humanitarian operations following earthquake. [22] [23]
Microbe 13 September 194322 November 1943RhodesPart of the Dodecanese campaign, World War II. [11]
Newcombe 13 January 201314 November 2022West AfricaOperation Newcombe was the code name for two separate and concurrent RAF non-combat military operations in Mali. One operation involved logistical and airlift support for the French-led Operation Barkhane (previously Operation Serval), whilst the other encompassed peacekeeping in support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). [24] [25] [26]
Palliser May 2000September 2000Sierra LeoneUK military intervention in Sierra Leone
Pitting 13 August 202128 August 2021AfghanistanEvacuating British nationals and eligible Afghans from Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive.
Plainfare 24 June 194812 May 1949 Allied-occupied Germany Part of the Cold War. [27]
Rescript 23 March 20202022United KingdomHomeland military operation to support tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resinate 20012003IraqMaintaining no-fly zones in Iraq. [15]
River 27 May 1944Part of World War II. [28]
Ruman September 2017October 2017CaribbeanProviding relief to the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Irma. [29]
Shaku December 2016December 2016Northern EnglandRepairing flood defences during the 2015–16 Great Britain and Ireland floods. [30]
Stamina July 1944Part of World War II [31]
Telic 19 March 200322 May 2011Iraq & AsiaPart of the Iraq War
Thursday 5 March 1944BurmaPart of the Burma Campaign, World War II
Toral 20158 July 2021AfghanistanUK's contribution to NATO's Resolute Support Mission
Trenton 20172020South SudanBritish contribution to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Veritas 200120 June 2002Afghanistan & AsiaPart of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan
Vigour12 December 199212 December 1992KenyaRelief flights. [14]
Warden September 19911991Iraq [14]
Wildhorn 19441994PolandPart of the World War II. [32]

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References

Citations

  1. ↑ "RAF Typhoons reinforce NATO's response to Russia-Ukraine crisis". www.raf.mod.uk. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "RAF Typhoons Wow Lithuanian Crowds". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "Op Azotize: What Was The RAF's Role In Lithuania?". Forces Network. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Permanent Representatives to NATO visits Operation Azotize | Royal Air Force".
  5. ↑ "RAF Typhoons hand over NATO Romania duties to Canada". Royal Air Force. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Members of Parliament visit RAF personnel on Enhanced Air Policing mission, Operation Biloxi | Royal Air Force". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "RAF - 83EAG". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  8. 1 2 "RAF flies supplies into snowed-in areas". BBC News. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  9. ↑ Grzeszczyk, Sian (26 September 2022). "Eight years of Operation Shader: The UK's mission against IS". Forces Network. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "Six Years of Operation Shader | Royal Air Force".
  11. 1 2 Grant 1979, p. 121.
  12. ↑ Grant 1979, p. 119.
  13. ↑ "Spirit of the Air Volume 2 Number 4 2007 - Falklands Commemorative" (PDF). www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cotter 2008, p. 72.
  15. 1 2 AirForces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. April 2016. p. 6.
  16. ↑ Cotter 2008, p. 73.
  17. ↑ "Spirit of the Air: December 2006" (PDF). www.raf.mod.uk. pp. 21–24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  18. ↑ Cotter 2008, p. 71.
  19. ↑ "RAF Akrotiri - History". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2016. By 2013, There was increasing concern that escalating violence in Syria was threatening to destabilise neighbouring nations. In Aug 13, 121 Expeditionary Air Wg was deployed to RAF Akrotiri in support of Op LUMINOUS. Op LUMINOUS cemented the Stations work on contingency it affirmed the decision to split Ops Wg into an Ops and a Logs Wg on 10th June 2013. This enabled Logs to concentrate on enablement the inflow of personnel and equipment while allowing Ops to concentrate on the operation itself. Activity during LUMINOUS was frenetic and the 'plug and play' of support Units into the Stn proved a success. Op LUMINOUS wound down in Nov 13 and a number of significant Lessons Identified have or are being implemented.
  20. ↑ Redefyne. "NATO: RAF Typhoons over Iceland - EU Today". eutoday.net. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  22. ↑ Westminster, Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons. "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 22 Nov 2005 (pt 25)". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ↑ "Spirit of the Air; Volume 1" (PDF). www.raf.mod.uk. pp. 6–12. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  24. ↑ "Three Royal Air Force Chinooks arrive in Mali". UK Defence Journal. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  25. ↑ "Mali: RAF C17 cargo plane to help French operation". BBC News. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  26. ↑ "Mali: RAF surveillance aircraft Sentinel deployed". BBC News. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  27. ↑ Grant 1979, p. 154.
  28. ↑ Grant 1979, p. 139.
  29. ↑ "Operation Ruman".
  30. ↑ AirForces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. March 2016. p. 30.
  31. ↑ Grant 1979, p. 141.
  32. ↑ Grant 1979, p. 145.

Bibliography

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