Core responsibility 1: Operations

In this section

• Description
• Progress on results
• Key risks
• Resources required to achieve results
• Related government-wide priorities
• Program inventory

Description

Detect, deter and defend against threats to or attacks on Canada. Assist civil authorities and law enforcement, including counter-terrorism, in support of national security, domestic disasters or major emergencies, and conduct search and rescue operations. Detect, deter and defend against threats to or attacks on North America in partnership with the United States, including through NORAD.

Lead and/or contribute forces to NATO and coalition efforts to deter and defeat adversaries, including terrorists, to support global stability. Lead and/or contribute to international peace operations and stabilization missions with the United Nations, NATO and other multilateral partners.

Engage in capacity building to support the security of other nations and their ability to contribute to security and the security of Canadians abroad. Assist civil authorities and non-governmental partners in responding to international and domestic disasters or major emergencies.

Progress on results

This section presents details on how the department performed to achieve results and meet targets for Operations. Details are presented by departmental result.

Additional information on the detailed results and performance information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces' program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

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Details on results

The following section describes the results for Operations in FY 2023–24 compared with the planned results set out in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces' departmental plan for the year.

Canadians are protected against threats to and attacks on Canada

Canada's ability to thrive economically is predicated on the stability and certainty of the rules-based international order and protecting the vital national security interests of Canada. Hard power is increasingly becoming the currency of choice on the international scale, placing significant demands on CAF personnel, as are numerous high-paced domestic operations. Despite these challenges, DND/CAF continued to deliver on the Canadian government's primary responsibility to protect our country and citizens.

The CAF continued to operate in a complex and dynamic security environment that posed challenges and presented opportunities for Canada's defence and security interests. Activities that drew on CAF resources for analysis, prudent planning, and in some cases, deployment of forces including the continued war in Ukraine, build-up of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic and crises in North Kosovo, Haiti, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Readying CAF resources to support activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas war was also a significant activity and called upon already strained resources in the intelligence and planning functions at all levels of the CAF.

Operation LENTUS: In FY 2023-24, the CAF provided 131 consecutive days of support to provincial and territorial authorities, responding to natural disasters with approximately 2,100 combat-capable CAF members deployed across Canada. The increase in frequency and severity of natural disasters, together with gaps in emergency management capacity levels across Canada, have led to a significant increase in Requests for Assistance (RFA). While the CAF will always be there for Canadians, the CAF was not intended, nor structured to be a persistent force of first choice in providing emergency management services. The increase in the CAF responding to RFAs adversely impacted military readiness, equipment serviceability, personnel training, and CAF Reconstitution activities, and diverted defence resources needed to promote international stability and peace at a time of increasing global threats. Many of the same CAF members participating in Operation LENTUS were shortly thereafter deployed to Cyprus to support Operation LUMEN.

Operation LIMPID: The CAF conducted routine and contingency surveillance and control to detect threats to Canada over Canada's air, maritime, land, and aerospace domains and maintained a physical presence. Other accomplishments include:

• Strengthened collaboration with, and support for, other government departments and agencies to maintain a cooperative National Security community by increasing and improving communication and coordination efforts. Through Joint Task Force North (JTFN), Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) participated in the Arctic Security Working Group and the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable to enhance and expand the CAF's presence and readiness in the Arctic. Through the Regional Joint Task forces, CJOC participated in domestic exercises at the provincial and municipal levels to enhance emergency preparedness;
• Conducted operational-level engagement with other government departments and agencies to enhance interoperability and mutual support, as outlined in the Federal Emergency Response Plan in support of CAF operations; and
• Worked with other Canadian authorities and agencies in support of law enforcement and national security. Ongoing operations included support to Parks Canada for avalanche control (Operation PALACI). In addition, 54 CAF members were deployed in support of the Coronation of His Majesty, King Charles III as part of Operation GOLDEN ORB.

People in distress receive effective search and rescue response

In FY 2023-24, there were 8,234 SAR incidents (cases), with 1,718 of these having a final classification of 1 (Distress) or 2 (Imminent Distress). Joint Rescue Coordination Centre SAR cases were managed effectively and delivered through to conclusion or handed over to an appropriate agency.

The Canadian Rangers, an integral component of the CAF, are a diverse and agile localized capability generated for employment by the CAF to assist the Government of Canada presence in remote, northern, coastal and isolated areas. Through RFAs in support of provincial or territorial authorities' mandates, the Canadian Rangers supported 36 ground SAR missions and responded to two RFAs from provincial or territorial authorities.

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Canada's Arctic sovereignty is preserved and safeguarded

The Arctic is becoming more accessible, which means that geography no longer affords Canada the security once relied upon. In support of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, the CAF continued to maintain a small, but year-round presence in Canada's North and routinely conducted training and operations in the region. Activities conducted as part of Operation NANOOK and Operation LIMPID enhanced Canadian presence and ensured the defence, security, and safety of Canada's Arctic.

Climate change will continue impacting the CAF's ability to detect, deter, and degrade threats to Canadians and Canadian interests in the future, increasing the need for additional resources in the Arctic, particularly dual-use capabilities that bring value such as ongoing upgrades to the Inuvik Runway.

To preserve and safeguard Canada's sovereignty, the CAF:

• Strengthened the development of cold weather combat skills through participation in Arctic Exercises, such as Exercise GLOBAL RESOLVE, a joint exercise at the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center held in Fort Wainwright, Alaska in February 2024;
• Worked with Northern and Indigenous communities in support of CAF operations to maintain emergency response capacity and domain awareness. Environmental assessment and site remediation were built into every operation that JTFN conducted to ensure the areas operated in remain in pristine condition;
• Operation BOXTOP Maintained ongoing resupply missions to Canadian Forces Station Alert, the most northern permanently inhabited place in the world; and
• Advanced interoperability, situational awareness, and information-sharing initiatives through continuing collaboration with Allies and partners in NORAD, United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), NATO engagements, the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable, the Arctic Security Working Group, and the Arctic Capabilities Advisory Working Group.

The CAF also conducted several Arctic operations, including:

• Operation NANOOK: The CAF deployed forces and conducted exercises together with elements of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Canadian Army (CA), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM). The operation practiced anti-submarine warfare and all domain awareness by tracking air, land and sea assets in the Northwest Passage. Operation NANOOK demonstrated Canada's commitment to protecting the Arctic and maintaining strong, collaborative, maritime capabilities with both international and national partners. This operation was a strategic demonstration of ability and resolve, while tactically, it was a good training opportunity for all involved. The focus was the deployment of forces to the High Arctic to rehearse and enhance CAF capability to deploy and operate in austere and remote environments;

• Operation NANOOK-NUNAKPUT: This Arctic operation took place from 27 August to 9 September 2023 and consisted of the primary land component of the NANOOK series of operations. The CA deployed roughly 100 soldiers from 2nd Canadian Division, supported by the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. The land task force deployment to Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories (NWT), enabled land forces to conduct presence and surveillance operations in that region. In addition, CAF land and air patrols occurred in and around Inuvik, NWT and Resolute Bay, Nunavut. This operation integration of regional and other government departments and agencies in a series of presence activities in JTFN's area of operations, supported by the CA, the RCAF and, where applicable, the RCN, were designed to develop domain awareness, foster greater interoperability, and increase overall readiness;
• Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT: The CAF's annual joint, combined, all-domain defence and security operation was conducted in Canada's High Arctic in partnership with regional and international military partners. From 1 to 20 March 2024, the CA, RCAF and RCN, as well as international participants from the United States, Belgium, France and Germany, participated in this operation. The CAF built interoperability in joint operations and demonstrated capability to project and sustain forces in the Arctic;
• Operation NANOOK-TATIGIIT: This facilitated disaster response rehearsal was conducted from 23 to 27 October 2023 and encompassed a whole-of-government scenario tailored to meet the objectives of the Government of Canada (GoC) and our Northern mission partners at the international, federal, territorial and municipal levels. The training was conducted in response to a simulated ice storm causing extensive power infrastructure failure with extreme cold temperatures in multiple communities, and involved integrated partners from the federal to the municipal level. Through this exercise, the CAF and the GoC were able to further develop disaster response capabilities, as well as define where frictions exist when responding to these scenarios; and
• Operation NANOOK-TUUGALIK: This operation took place from 8 to 25 August 2023, with portions of the operation continuing through 29 September 2023, as His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf continued maritime presence patrols in the Arctic region. This operation demonstrated the CAFs abilities to deploy and conduct exercises with our Allies, and international and Whole of Government partners, in the Arctic. As part of the operation, the United States Ship San Juan, with four members of the RCN aboard, navigated the Northwest Passage. In addition to supporting Canada's Arctic sovereignty, this operation supported defence research to improve reconnaissance in the Arctic.

The CAF also conducted several training exercises in the Arctic, including:

• CANSOFCOM conducted training in the Arctic to ensure its readiness, including participating in Exercise ARCTIC EDGE, a USNORTHCOM-led Arctic defence exercise to enhance our Arctic capabilities and inter-operability with Allies.
• The Canadian Army divisions conducted or participated in seven major exercises in the Arctic. These included Exercise GLOBAL RESOLVE, where the 3rd Canadian Division completed the first Light Infantry Battalion Validation (BV) in Alaska with the United States 11th Airborne Infantry Division.
• The RCN and RCAF participated in ICE CAMP 2024, a three-week operation in March 2024 designed to research, test and evaluate operational capabilities in the Arctic region. Previously known as Ice Exercise, it was elevated to an operation to better reflect the priorities in the region. The participating teams had the opportunity to hone their skills in one of the most harsh and demanding environments in the world.
• The CAF Arctic Training Centre (CAFATC) in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, worked in conjunction with Natural Resources Canada’s Polar Continental Shelf Program to facilitate both individual and collective training events.

CAFATC experienced several challenges including:

• The CAFATC's main arctic mobility vehicle, the BV 206, saw an 80% failure rate limiting its use for essential tasks, ground medical evacuation and emergency response; and
• The current BV-206 fleet is no longer reliable for emergency ground medevac and the risks associated with health and safety of CAF, civilian and international participants are no longer acceptable.

CAFATC's mitigations were:

• The CAF is more reliant on snowmobiles and light all-terrain vehicles. Though they lack amphibious capabilities and environmental protection, they are limited in troop and cargo carrying capacity, are not designed for year-round use, nor are they suitable for casualty or medical evacuation;
• CAFATC depends on costly air medical services for emergency medical evacuations; and
• The Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement Project will be replacing the BV 206 starting in 2027.

During winter 2024, the CAFATC supported the Arctic survival phase of the CAF Search and Rescue Technician training, RCAF air crew survival course, and the Arctic Operations course for the Canadian Army. The Arctic Operations course had international participation from allied armed forces; the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Australia.

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North America is defended against threats and attacks

The CAF continued to position to employ conventional and special operations capabilities and collaborate with Allies, regional partners and other Canadian Government departments and agencies to deter, detect and defend Canada and North America from nation states and violent extremist organizations.

The CAF executed maritime and aerospace warnings, and aerospace control missions in accordance with the NORAD Agreement and Terms of Reference. NORAD sought to adjust to the rapidly shifting global security environment and deter aggression by pursuing and employing a capable defence based on global integration, all-domain awareness, information dominance and decision superiority. They leveraged a wide array of capabilities, authorities and activities to defend North America using means that currently exist in the command, and where necessary, pursue additional means through prioritized budget and planning cycles.

The Department pursued its efforts to strengthen continental defence through the modernization of NORAD, as committed to in Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE): Canada's Defence Policy. Significant investments were put in motion to support these efforts and to position Canada to work closely with the United States to maintain continental defence and deterrence capabilities. The Defence Team is committed to developing better all-domain surveillance, modernizing command and control systems, and upgrading and enhancing the CAF’s domestic and continental defence capabilities, with a focus on the approach to Inuit Nunangat and more broadly the North. Efforts are underway to adjust to global integration, all-domain awareness, information dominance, and decision superiority. In January 2024, investment in NORAD modernization continued with the initial roll-out of the Cloud-Based Command and Control system at the Canadian Air Defence Sector, 22 Wing North Bay, to garner feedback prior to full implementation, which is scheduled for Full Operational Capability in 2025. Efforts, including Global Information Dominance Experiments and investment in Over the Horizon Radar to modernize NORAD, were taken to ensure that the binational command can continue conducting aerospace warning and control and maritime warning of threats to North America. The Defence Team worked with the United States Department of Defence to support Canada-United States collaboration on potential solutions, and coordination and alignment of future investments.

Canadian Armed Forces contribute to a more stable and peaceful world

The war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, tensions in the Indo-Pacific, new threats to Canada's Arctic sovereignty, rapid technological advances, and changes to our climate are challenges that directly impacted Canada, Canadians, and our national security. DND/CAF contributed to world stability with international Allies and partners. Due to competing priorities, the CAF was challenged to concurrently deploy on all required military operations in FY 2023-24.

DND/CAF continued to share timely and relevant intelligence with Five Eyes (FVEY) and NATO. Publishing over 1,500 strategic, all-source intelligence products throughout FY 2023-24, DND/CAF shared 86% of products with FVEY partners and further released a significant portion to its NATO Allies. Leaning heavily on a strong FVEY intelligence-sharing relationship, over 40% of DND/CAF's published strategic intelligence reports addressed rapidly developing and volatile areas, including the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine; the Israel-Hamas conflict; instability and civil strife of the Haiti crisis, and the rapid decline in stability in Sudan. Such intelligence support was critical to both the DND/CAF and Embassy staffs employed in these countries as well as Canada's safe and timely evacuation of its citizens affected by the volatility and the degradation in security.

The Joint Intelligence and Operations Centre (JIOC) continued to provide intelligence support to the development of Canadian, FVEY and NATO targets. By May 2023, JIOC intelligence had produced hundreds of intelligence reports and assessments on the status of infrastructure of 30 Ground Lines of Communication. From March to September 2023, Intelligence rapidly generated and shared Third Party Damage Estimations of Lines of Communication and Targeted Entities, averaging three products per week. Moreover, within the FY 2023-24 timeframe, JIOC refreshed its Joint Prioritized List, further identifying scores of additional Points of Interest for Intermediate Target Development. Intelligence efforts resulted in multiple assessments of foreign networks targeting operations in the Arctic as well as the completion of Entity Target Studies necessary for the validation of future targets. Modernization of the CF Weather and Oceanographic Service continued, enabling DND/CAF provision of meteorological support in forward-deployed areas of NATO Operations (Operation REASSURANCE).

On 31 March 2024, the Defence Intelligence Enterprise Renewal transitioned from a Programme-of-Work to an approach of continuous review, renewal and capability development. The Programme developed and implemented 23 optimization measures, including key strategic Defence Intelligence measures that, once implemented, supported Defence Intelligence in addressing current security challenges, while aiming to mitigate future threats to Canada's national security. The critical operationalization of these measures enables the provision of credible, timely and relevant intelligence to the DND/CAF, as well as to Canada's closest Allies.

The Military and Cooperation Program (MTCP), administered by the Department, sponsored the training of almost 2,000 candidates from 55 strategically relevant countries under its core, relationship-building envelope in FY 2023-24. Areas of training included English and French language enhancement, senior staff and non-commissioned officer development, operational and exercise planning, strategic studies, public affairs, chaplaincy, the integration of women and gender perspectives in the armed forces, defence resource management, International Law of Armed Conflict, combat medical skills, naval and air force skills, and peace support operations skills.

In addition to its core activities, the MTCP provided $12.3 million of international capacity building support under the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Operation PRESENCE and Operation UNIFIER, in key areas including equipment donations, defence institution building, Women, Peace, and Security, and peace support operations training. Finally, the Program committed $1.15 billion of enhanced military assistance to Ukraine, including substantial equipment donations that are integral to the country's counter-offensive against Russia.

National Defence continued to work with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Defence's Dallaire Centre of Excellence for Peace and Security, to fully implement the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers into CAF doctrine, training and education, policy and processes. Building on work conducted in previous years, this included an assessment of professional development needs related to improved understanding of CAF roles in preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers across the range of CAF missions and activities, the development of employment options for Military Child Protection Focal Points, moral injury research related to CAF member's interaction with child soldiers and the development of a handbook on CAF roles in the broader military considerations for the protection of children in operations. These activities included the integration of intersectional analyses to better understand the impact of the issue on girls, boys and gender-diverse children and considered the essential contribution of women to operational effectiveness, and the critical roles both men and women play in the protection of children.

The Dallaire Centre of Excellence wrote an aide-memoire in 2023, CAF Responses to Preventing the Unlawful Recruitment and Use of Children in Conflict, which provides a summary of actions the CAF may take to prevent the unlawful recruitment and use of children.

In FY 2023-24, DND/CAF implemented training and procedures for the inclusion of Vancouver Principles into all CAF operations, released a Chief of the Defence Staff Directive on the Vancouver Principles, and developed a Joint Doctrine Note to support the directive. A standing steering committee meets regularly to advance and monitor this implementation across five lines of effort:

1. Development of a Joint Doctrine Note;
2. Establishment of focal points;
3. Adjusting operational processes;
4. Training and education; and
5. Mental health.

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The Dallaire Centre of Excellence continues to provide support to all DND/CAF efforts through research and guidance.

In support of Euro-Atlantic security, the CAF deployed on operations, including:

• Operation REASSURANCE: Since 2017, Canada has served as Framework Nation for NATO's enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Latvia, leading a multinational battle group composed of ten nations and is currently Canada's largest foreign military deployment, providing a leadership role on NATO's eastern flank. The CAF continued increasing its military presence from about 1,000 troops to a sustained deployment of up to 2,200 troops by 2026, per the July 2023 Roadmap on Scaling the eFP Latvia Battle Group to Brigade. Canada also deployed additional capabilities such as Medium Range Radar (MRR) capabilities, a maritime component, and a Canadian Army Tank Squadron of 15 Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks to Latvia. Due to the lack of storage and maintenance facilities, the MRR and Main Battle Tank capabilities are at significant risk of un-forecasted maintenance requirements to ensure continued serviceability. The CAF continued development of defence infrastructure in Latvia, particularly with regards to the expansion at Camp Adazi; however, the lack of space at Camp Adazi remains concerning ahead of the Forward Land Forces Brigade inflow. The CAF also continued providing a Special Operations Forces liaison element to NATO while integrating into collective training activities. These activities demonstrate Canada's continued contribution to making Central and Eastern Europe more secure and stable, bolstering defence and deterrence, and contributing to the greater security of the Euro-Atlantic area;
• The CAF deployed maritime assets operating under Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Maritime Group 1. CAF intended to deploy a submarine under Operation REASSURANCE, but did not, due to technical/mechanical challenges;
• Air Task Force – Prestwick supported Operation REASSURANCE, along with other episodic missions in Africa and the Middle East by providing tactical airlift capabilities via three C130J Hercules airframes, crew, and support personnel;
• Operation KOBOLD: CAF personnel supported the NATO-led international peace support operation in Kosovo by contributing to the planning, coordination, and execution of logistics and engineering tasks, including transportation, recovery, explosive ordinance/improvised explosive device disposal, general engineering, and freedom of movement tasks;
• Operation UNIFIER: Canada's continued its support to Ukraine and since the start of Operation UNIFIER in 2015, the CAF has trained approximately 40,000 members. Up to 500 CAF personnel continued their support to the Government of Ukraine in support of the Security Forces of Ukraine and in defence of Ukrainian sovereignty, freedom, and independence from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, providing training that covers a range of basic and advanced military skills, including battlefield tactics, tactical medical training, engineering, and leadership. In FY 2023-24 the DND/CAF:
  • Provided vital military donations, including night-vision devices, over 800 drones, and funding to support Ukraine's F-16 fighter jet capability;
  • Delivered previously announced lethal military aid such as all eight Leopard 2A main battle tanks, machine guns, small arms and corresponding ammunition (15,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition). Of note, Ukraine uses up to 7,000 of these rounds per day;
  • Trained approximately 4,500 members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine members during 40 course serials including recruit, artillery, engineer, junior officer, Leopard II, M777 howitzer maintenance, and medical training; and
  • Provided ongoing cybersecurity support and expanded support to Security Assistance Group – Ukraine, placing pressure on CAF force generation.
• Operation OPEN SPIRIT: The CAF contributed to the annual multinational effort to remove Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) from Baltic Sea Territorial Waters to ensure shipping lanes and fishing areas are safe. This operation was an important opportunity to enhance RCN knowledge and experience in naval mine countermeasures. Operational scenarios spanned the full spectrum of activities that the CAF must be capable of performing, including the use of live explosives and a level of sophistication in Explosive Ordnance Disposal operations, which is difficult to achieve in Canada. The operation also provided a valuable opportunity to learn from allied forces and partners.

In support of Peace and Stability in the Latin America and Caribbean regions, the CAF deployed on operations, including:

• Operation HELIOS: At the request of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), 152 CAF members deployed to Jamaica over the course of Operation HELIOS to provide training and logistical support to military personnel from CARICOM nations who were set to deploy to Haiti as part of the United Nations authorized, Kenyan-led, Multinational Security Support mission. In January 2024, the CAF led training courses for approximately 300 members of the defence personnel of Jamaica, Belize, and the Bahamas;
• Operation CARIBBE: The CAF contributed to the United States-led enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Basin, the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the coastal waters of Central America. In FY 2023-24, Two Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels and one Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel deployed to the region and contributed to intercepting 1,615 kilograms of cocaine, helping to control and disrupt drug trafficking and suppress organized crime in South and Central America; and
• Operation ACKEE: The CAF collaborated with GAC to mentor, enable and create opportunities for the Jamaica Defence Force to grow as a Special Operations Forces leader to combat trans-regional threats more effectively in the Caribbean Basin. Other regional partners included Belize, the Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana and Suriname. This operation included contributions to Exercise TROPICAL DAGGER.

In support of Middle Eastern Peace and Stability, the CAF contributed to several operations, including:

• Operation PROTEUS: Up to 30 CAF members, together with other government departments, continued helping Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) build their capacity through contributions to the Office of United States Security Coordinator (USSC) as part of Canada's military task force in Jerusalem. Over $10 million in projects was delivered to PASF, including equipment acquisitions such as refrigeration trucks for the Logistic Commission, police equipment, vehicles, furniture and communication systems which helped facilitate Israel-Palestinian security cooperation. The CAF also contributed to infrastructure projects, training and professional development through the USSC. The 2023 Canadian contribution to USSC was 23 CAF members, four police officers and analysts, and one Department of Justice (Canada) lawyer;
• Operation IMPACT: The CAF provided training and capacity-building assistance on a bilateral basis with the Jordanian and Lebanese Armed Forces and episodic airlift support to the Coalition from its Operational Support Hub in Kuwait. Due to personnel constraints and competing priorities both with domestic disaster and international relief, Operation IMPACT personnel continued to be scaled down. During FY 2023-24 deployed CAF members were reduced from 275 members to 148 members. The CAF trained, advised, and assisted Iraqi security forces to prevent the resurgence of Daesh and continued to progress the professionalization of Iraqi military institutions into sustainable and enduring defence institutions. In addition, the CAF provided advisory support on institutional reforms to build lasting security and stability through NATO Mission Iraq;
• The CAF engaged with the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) through the Senior Defence Dialogue Forum where gender integration was discussed, including the barriers preventing the meaningful participation of women in operations. The JAF indicated there has been a cultural shift to accepting women in military institutions after educational initiatives on appropriate behaviours of working with women. Within the next three years, the JAF hope to make major advancements on gender integration that would not be possible without the guidance of DND/CAF. With the sunsetting of the Middle East Strategy, gender integration has been incorporated into the planning for reviewing Operation IMPACT, which houses capacity-building initiatives in Jordan;
• Operation ARTEMIS: The CAF contributed to Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), including assuming command of CTF 150 from France on 17 January 2024. This operation promoted security and stability in Middle Eastern and East African waters and included the contribution of three staff officers to Operation PROSPERITY GUARDIAN. This new security initiative launched in December 2023 under CTF 153 to address maritime security challenges in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This operation also provided support to multiple UN Security Council Resolutions related to arms embargoes and threats to international peace and security caused by terrorism and crime, all while enhancing regional security and ensuring the freedom of navigation in one of the world's busiest and most vital waterways;
• Operation FOUNDATION: Embedded CAF personnel within United States Central Command’s components continued supporting Middle Eastern counter terrorism efforts. During 2023, CAF personnel were embedded within United States Naval Forces Central Command, the Combined Maritime Forces, and United States Air Forces Central Command Combined Air Operations Centre and its Air Defence Sector Headquarters; and
• Operation ION and Operation LUMEN: These operations followed the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The crisis generated the preparation and planning for a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in Lebanon (Operation LUMEN) and a request to support departure assistance of Canadian Entitled Personnel (CEP) from Israel (Operation ION). Under Operation ION, the CAF assisted with the departure of 1,651 passengers from Israel to Cyprus between 10 and 23 October 2023 with two CC-150 aircraft and supported the evacuation of 605 CEP through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. Under Operation LUMEN, the CAF deployed a total of 414 military personnel from 7 October to 15 December 2023, and provided planning capacity, logistical support, intelligence sharing, and liaison and coordination to support a potential assisted departure and a NEO from Lebanon.

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In support of peace and stability in Africa and UN peacekeeping, the CAF deployed in operations, including:

• Continued contribution to GoC's peace operations strategy, through UN-led operations: Operation PRESENCE, Operation CROCODILE, Operation JADE, Operation SOPRANO and Operation SNOWGOOSE. The UN mission to Mali (MINUSMA) ceased operations on 1 December 2023, in accordance with host nation request and UN Security Council Resolution 2690. CAF continued to support United Nations Peacekeeping Operations within the Operation PRESENCE mandate via Training Support to Peace Operations that provide training for troop-contributing nations; one deployment was held in FY 2023-24 in Brindisi, Italy. Through Operation PRESENCE (Tactical Air Lift Detachment), the CAF provided aviation support to UN missions in Africa on an episodic basis. In addition, the CAF continued to support the peacekeeping mission to monitor peace between Israel and Egypt, which remains led by Multinational Force and Observers. Deployed CAF members to UN Peacekeeping operations have been numerically declining since 2005 and have reached historic lows with only 22 CAF members deployed on UN Peacekeeping operations. Given existing personnel shortfalls, these force levels have been reduced to meet competing priorities, such as domestic operations and operations in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific region;
• Canada's 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial commitment to contribute a Quick Reaction Force of approximately 200 troops, with corresponding equipment, is increasingly unlikely to be fulfilled. While Canada has pledged to re-engage in peacekeeping as part of its proud tradition, it is not currently able to effectively do so without significantly greater personnel and materiel resourcing;



Caption

Operation SAVANNE: The CAF deployed 600 military personnel for a non-combatant evacuation of 536 individuals from Sudan from 16 April to 4 May 2023.

• Operation SAVANNE: This operation supported a NEO in Sudan in April 2023. Following a request for assistance from GAC, the CAF provided military assistance to the Embassy to help ensure the safety of Canadians abroad in Sudan. A total of six flights were generated to evacuate 536 individuals on Canadian flights, including 176 Canadians and Permanent Residents; and
• Operation FULCRUM: Members of the CANSOFCOM worked with African partner nations to promote collaboration and strengthen their ability to counter violent extremist organizations through participation in security cooperation exercises with Allies and partner nations.

In support of defence and security elements of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the CAF conducted or participated in operations, including:

• Operation PROJECTION/HORIZON: Operation HORIZON is Canada's ongoing forward presence mission to promote peace and stability in support of the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific. The new operation replaced the Indo-Pacific portion of Operation PROJECTION in summer 2023, in line with Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. All naval activities formerly conducted under Operation PROJECTION Indo-Pacific, along with new activities conducted by the CA, RCAF, CCANSOFCOM, and other CAF elements, are now conducted under Operation HORIZON. A key commitment of Canada's 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy was achieved in 2023 through the increase of the number of warships annually deployed to the Indo-Pacific region from two to three. Op HORIZON demonstrates Canada's continued support of freedom of navigation and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is being challenged by the People's Republic of China;
• Operation NEON: DND/CAF supported the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea in cooperation with our partners in the Pacific Security Maritime Exchange including Australia, France, the United States, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom. The CAF permanently contributed three members to the Enforcement Coordination Centre who were employed at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan. A warship supported the operation for four weeks in the fall of 2023. A CP140 Aurora aircraft and its support detachment deployed for six weeks from late April to early June 2023 and another Air Detachment deployed from October to early November, 2023;
• Operation MANTIS: Collaborated with GAC to provide military-to-military training and capacity building for the Malaysian Armed Forces, to enable them to better operate in a chemical, biological and radiological environment; and
• Operation RENDER SAFE: In FY 2023-24, the CAF did not conduct this operation as it was not invited to participate in this Australian Defence Force-led Explosive Ordnance Disposal mission to locate and remove ERW. However, in March 2024 the CAF participated in planning activities for the next iteration of this operation, which is anticipated to include military forces from Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Canada and France, as well as multiple Host Nations in the South Pacific.

DND/CAF continued to promote the inclusion of Women in peace and security operations by engaging broadly in bilateral and multilateral forums to advance Women, Peace, and Security priorities. This included leading and/or participating in UN, NATO, Latin American Countries in the UN, Organization of American States, Inter-American Defence Board, FVEY, Conference of the Defence Ministers of the Americas, and other partnership engagements, often along with GAC. DND/CAF worked with GAC to plan and co-host (along with Uruguay and Bangladesh) a preparatory meeting for the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial focused on Women in Peacekeeping.

There have been successful initiatives in the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and the percentage of women serving on international missions has increased. However, due to consistently high demands and competing priorities on CAF personnel, the CAF is unlikely to meet the 2028 UN target for women serving in military contingents (15%), and for military observers and staff officers (25%). The CAF will continue to develop innovative ways to increase the participation by, and support for, CAF women on deployment with UN, NATO other activities. This will require nuanced analysis and additional resources. Analysis of past plans and assessment of future options will occur as part of DND/CAF continued support to Canada's National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

For a detailed list of current, past and future operations and exercises, please refer to the DND/CAF website and the 2023 snapshot - Map of CAF Operations.

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Key risks

Several risks can affect the department's ability to achieve its Departmental Results, including:

Cyber Intrusion - There is a risk of serious harm (e.g., loss of sensitive data, disruption to the network, physical electronic damage, loss of confidence in institution/reputation) resulting from a cyber intrusion.

Military Strength - The heightened and persistent demand on the CAF to address deteriorating global security and provide federal domestic response in the absence, may result in inadequate resources, negatively impacting military readiness and exacerbating existing personnel shortages, hindering the fulfillment of its core mission set outlined in defence policy.

Military Strength - There is a risk that DND/CAF will not have the right military personnel, in the right numbers, at the right place, and at the right time.

Infrastructure Procurement / Construction - There is a risk that DND/CAF may have difficulty procuring/building infrastructure at the right level to support operations.

As the Defence Departmental Results Framework reflects a chain of delivery from conceiving of the required armed forces, to developing them and then executing operations, the activities to mitigate the risks to Operations can also be found in the core responsibilities which deliver building blocks that enable the results of Operations.

Resources required to achieve results

Complete financial and human resources information for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces' program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Related government-wide priorities

Gender-based analysis plus

The wide range of procurement, personnel and operations activities continue to be improved through the consideration and application of gender perspectives throughout all phases of operations, such as the Operational Planning Process.

The Defence Team's Implementation Plan in response to Canada's third National Action Plan (CNAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) 2023-2029 aims to strengthen gender-responsive CAF's operational planning, implementation and support for domestic operations.

Gender Advisors and Gender Focal Points were employed in all CAF international operations. In 2023, notable opportunities to apply Gender-Based Analysis plus (GBA Plus) and intersectional perspectives to operational support occurred in Poland, Ukraine, Haiti, and Latvia. In Poland, the Task Force Gender Advisor was involved in all aspects of this training mission and supported the local Defence Attaché in connecting with local and Ukraine- based non-governmental organizations and interested parties. CAF involvement in the Interdepartmental Task Force in Haiti resulted in intersectional factors being applied towards stabilization and humanitarian efforts in the country. Under Operations HORIZON and PROJECTION, ships' crews and augmentees employed GBA Plus to keep CAF members safe and effective and, working alongside the United States and other military partners, to build capacity and awareness within the Indo-Pacific region. the Defence Team was offered opportunities to engage with partners and developing countries alike under the banner of GBA Plus training and further the WPS agenda through CAF engagement. In March 2024, the CAF MTCP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines co-hosted a Symposium on Gender-Responsive Leadership in Manila.

In FY 2023-24, GBA Plus considerations were particularly important in conducting training for Operation UNIFIER and building infrastructure in Latvia for Operation REASSURANCE.

Canada continued its support of United Nations-led efforts to increase women's meaningful participation in uniformed roles in peace support operations through Phase 2 of the Elsie Initiative. In FY 2023-24, Canada's contribution included bilateral training assistance to identified partner troop and police-contributing countries.

The Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations Report highlighted CAF's efforts in meeting United Nations targets for CAF women deployed to United Nations Peace support operations. In 2023, the UN goal of 20% for deployed women as Military Staff Officers and Military Observers was not reached, as only 9% of deployed CAF peacekeepers were women. Of note, the 2028 target for women serving in military contingents is 15%, and 25% for military observers and staff officers; however, the CAF initiated implementation of measures to address related challenges identified in the Elsie Initiative Barrier Assessment.

These measures also included expanding the use of GBA Plus in procedures and activities, making further use of formal training and mentorship opportunities, and increasing collaboration with the larger GBA Plus community in the CAF. Integrating the Gender Based Analysis Plus intersectional perspectives increased CANSOFCOM understanding of the effects of operations on vulnerable groups, improved our situational and cultural awareness, and ensured cognition of the gender considerations and inclusivity, which supported mission success.

In March 2024, the GoC launched Foundations for Peace: Canada's Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. The action plan seeks to maintain the country's leadership through meaningful action at an international level. It also includes more commitments at the domestic level than previous action plans. These commitments address global issues, such as the rise in climate emergencies and increases in technology-facilitated, gender-based violence, including attacks targeting women peacebuilders and human rights defenders living in Canada and abroad.

The action plan recognizes that the GoC continues to focus on addressing gender-based discrimination, violence, oppression and marginalization faced by women in Canada, particularly among Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people. It also recognizes that leadership by Indigenous women and gender-diverse people is essential to achieving sustainable peace and security for all.

More information on GBA Plus can be found in the GBA Plus Supplementary Information Tables section of this report.

Indigenous relations

The CAF maintained existing positive relationships with Arctic Indigenous governments, communities, and peoples. Community engagements remained a central component of Operation NANOOK, seeking to enhance cooperation, environmental and defence awareness across the region.

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Program inventory

Operations is supported by the following programs:

• Operations in Canada;
• Operations in North America;
• International Operations;
• Global Engagement;
• Cyber Operations;
• Command, Control and Sustainment of Operations; and
• Special Operations.

Additional information related to the program inventory for Operations is available on the GC InfoBase.

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