Strategic Overview: Canadian Armed Forces Operations and Activities

Strategic overview

• Canada's defence policy is informed by the challenges and opportunities of a complex global security environment and defines how the Government of Canada (GC) will support and employ the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to defend Canadian interests and contribute to a more secure and peaceful world.
• While the CAF carry out operations around the globe, the top priority is the defence of Canada against new and accelerating threats, with a particular focus on North America and its approaches, including the Arctic region. Beyond Canada, the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific are priority theatres of operations with activities ultimately calibrated to contribute to the defence of Canada through global stability.
• In most cases, CAF military operations and activities are applied as part of a coherent, coordinated, whole-of-government effort in concert with diplomatic engagement, humanitarian and development aid, and other comprehensive measures. In some rare cases, the military may be uniquely called upon to act in Canada's interests. In all cases, CAF activities comply with domestic and international law.
• Three organizations are primarily responsible for the command, control, sustainment, and management of CAF operations and report directly to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS):
  • The Canadian Joint Operations Command is responsible for all domestic and international missions, less North American aerospace defence and special forces operations;
  • The binational North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is responsible for aerospace warning and control of North America, and maritime warning in its surrounding waters; and
  • The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command is responsible for all domestic and international special operations missions.
• The Strategic Joint Staff (SJS) works closely with these operational commands to consolidate input from across the CAF providing the CDS with comprehensive analysis and decision support for all CAF missions as well as advice and options to government on how best to employ the military in Canada's national interest. SJS, policy, and legal interlocutors assist the CDS in translating government objectives into clearly articulated orders while enabling them to effect strategic command.
• The Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy) is the lead for policy advice to the Minister of National Defence (MND) related to operations, in consultation with DND/CAF and other governmental departments.

Domestic and continental operations and activities

• Defending Canada is the CAF's top priority with two main lines of effort. The first is to provide CAF elements and capabilities to defend Canada's sovereignty, including through surveillance and control of Canadian territory and its approaches. The second is to assist civilian authorities in natural disaster response, search and rescue, pandemic response, and other domestic emergencies.
• Several operations are conducted in support of the first line of effort with the NORAD mission being the most notable. Forces are postured across Canada 24/7/365 to ensure the CAF can respond to any challenges to our sovereignty on very short notice. Despite our isolation from some of the world's conflict zones, North America is no longer a sanctuary due to technological advances in weapons systems of our potential adversaries as well as their below threshold campaigns across the diplomatic, information, military, and economic spheres which often impact military equities. As a result, greater focus, resources, and renewed investment in the capabilities needed to protect the continent are required.
• Support to civilian authorities is the second line of effort and is governed by the national Emergency Management framework with authorities granted by the MND upon receipt of advice from the Deputy Minister and CDS following receipt of a Request for Assistance from a province/territory or another Minister of the Crown. Operation LENTUS is the CAF response to natural disasters in Canada.

International operations and activities

• International operations and activities enable the CAF to contribute to a more stable and peaceful world where threats to our national security are addressed far from our borders, military conflicts are deterred, universal values and multilateralism are promoted, and the international rules-based order is maintained. Such operations reinforce Canada's reputation as a reliable partner and responsible global actor and allow the GC to pursue foreign policy priorities and promote its strategic interests.
• When the CAF operates abroad, it does so under the authority of the Crown prerogative (the powers and privileges accorded by common law to the Crown). The Crown prerogative may be exercised by Cabinet, the Prime Minister, the Ministers of National Defence and Foreign Affairs jointly, or by the MND alone. The sensitivity, complexity, and risk to CAF members are factors in determining what level of authorization is appropriate. This approach also ensures Canada's national interests and foreign policies are supported by its military deployments.
• International operations are conducted bilaterally under the appropriate circumstances, but mostly under the auspices of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United Nations, or like-minded coalitions.
• In addition to operations abroad, the CAF builds and maintains relationships with allies, partners, other militaries and multilateral institutions through active defence diplomacy. These cooperative relationships enhance knowledge, understanding and interoperability, allow for the exchange of best practices, and contribute to success on operations.

Map of Canadian Armed Forces Domestic Operations

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Continental Operations

Caption

NORAD Headquarters

Integrated Tactical Warning Attack Assessment *24/7/365.

Detect, track, and monitor missiles launched anywhere in the world, and assess potential attacks on North America. If required,the engagement of ballistic missile threats is executedby the United States (U.S.) through U.S.Northern Command.

Maritime Warning *24/7/365.

Process, assess, and disseminate intelligence to warn of maritime threats to, or attacks against North America utilizing mutual support arrangements with other commands and agencies in the U.S. and Canada.

NORAD Operational Regions

State Actor Air Response *24/7/365.

Detect, track, identify, and intercept foreign military air incursions into the U.S. Air Defense Identification Zone (blue line) and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zone (red line) using integrated U.S. and Canadian air power from locations across North America.

NORAD forces routinely detect, track, identify, and intercept Russian military aircraft and, for the first time in 2024, People's Republic of China military aircraft.

Intercept and Safe Passage Escort *Routine

Demonstrate NORAD's rapid response capability by conducting the intercept, safe passage escort and handoff procedures of friendly aircraft, such as U.S. Strategic Command aircraft.

Operation NOBLE DEFENDER *Routine

Demonstrate NORAD's ability to launch U.S. and Canadian forces at a moment's notice from dispersed locations and defend North America from any and all approaches.

Demonstrate integrated Canada-U.S. operations across the Arctic in Alaska, Canada, as well as Pituffik Space Force Base in Greenland.

Operation NOBLE EAGLE (ONE) *24/7/365.

Established following 9/11, ONE provides proactive, and reactive, responses to aircraft which may pose a threat to North America.

ONE informs NORAD's operational approach to protect major national/international events, such as the Group of Seven.

Map of Canadian Armed Forces International Operations