Operation ARTEMIS

From: National Defence

Operation ARTEMIS is the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) mission to help stop terrorism and to make Middle Eastern waters more secure. These include the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean.

Canada is committed to peace and security in Middle Eastern waters. The CAF works with its allies and partners to help stop crime in this region.

Update

July 15, 2021 - Commodore Dan Charlebois of the Royal Canadian Navy transferred command of the Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) to Captain Brendon Clark of the Royal New Zealand Navy during a change of command ceremony held at Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

News Release

How many people are deployed?

This operation involves periodic deployments, meaning that ships and aircraft participate in it at different times from year to year. The number of CAF members deployed on Operation ARTEMIS has varied over time, depending on the number and size of ships and aircraft.

What are they doing?

When CAF sea assets and personnel are deployed on Operation ARTEMIS, they work with other coalition ships to patrol the waters of the Persian Gulf and off the east coast of Africa. The CP-140 Aurora aircraft can provide additional support by conducting maritime surveillance when deployed.

The naval crews work with international partners to patrol the Arabian Sea region and disrupt illicit drug trafficking and keep the seas safe under Combined Task Force 150.

When sea assets are not deployed, CAF members provide land-based support.

History and context of the operation

Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a naval partnership of 34 nations. It was formed in 2002. It works to make the international waters of the Middle East more secure and stable. It runs and leads missions to stop terrorism at sea. Some of the world’s busiest and most important shipping lanes are in these waters. As a result, CMF also works to stop piracy. Its headquarters are in Bahrain.

Combined Maritime Forces is made up of three operational headquarters. They are called combined task forces (CTF):

CTF 150, in charge of security and working to stop terrorism;
CTF 151, in charge of working to stop piracy; and
CTF 152, in charge of making the Persian Gulf more secure and working with partners in that region.

CTF 150 works with partners in the region and elsewhere. It works to discourage and stop terrorist groups from using the high seas for smuggling weapons, unlawful cargo, and drugs to fund their illegal activities. It also ensures the safe passage of merchant ships.

Canadian Armed Forces relationship with CTF 150

Canada has been a part of CTF 150 for a long time. From 2004 to 2008, seven Royal Canadian Navy ships served with CTF 150 on Operation ALTAIR.

Before that, the CAF worked in the region as Task Force 150. This was part of Operation APOLLO, and took place from 2001 to 2003.

Past deployments on Operation ARTEMIS

From 2014 to 2019, the CAF led CTF 150 three times and provided senior staff for the command team twice. The CAF also sent a team of three Royal Canadian Navy sailors to work in CTF-150 from May 2012 to September 2013.

Between 2012 and 2014, the CAF deployed ships on Operation ARTEMIS: