NATO Operation Allied Force, Operation Echo and Operation Determined Force, Kosovo

Operation Echo and Operation Determined Force

Operation Echo was the codename given by the Canadian Forces for its air activities during the Kosovo War in 1999. In support of the NATO Operation Allied Force Canadian aircraft based at Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy flew bombing missions over the Balkans.[1]During the campaign the Canadian air contingent consisted of 18 CF-18 Hornet aircraft from 441 and 425 Tactical Fighter Squadrons, with 69 aircrew and 250 ground crew. Between March 24 and June 10, 1999, they flew 684 sorties in 224 missions, and dropped nearly 500,000 lb (230,000 kg) of gravity and precision-guided bombs. Canadian forces comprised less than 2% of the nearly 1,000 Allied aircraft engaged in the conflict, they flew on 10% of all bombing missions.

Under Operation Determined Force, aircraft from 12 NATO nations began enforcing a “no-fly” zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 1998. Canada contributed six CF-188 Hornets. However, Yugoslavia ignored NATO’s warnings and continued to attack Kosovo.

As a result, on 23 March 1999, NATO launched Operation Allied Force. This was a 78-day bombing campaign to force Serbia to stop military action against Kosovo. Canada increased its contribution to 18 Hornets.

Continuing violence in the Former Yugoslavia Republic (FYR) brought CF-18s into theatre twice: first for a three-month deployment (Op Mirador, August–November 1997) for air patrols supporting NATO peacekeepers in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and again from late June 1998 until late December 2000 (Op Echo).

In June 1999, with 18 CF-18s already deployed to Aviano, Italy, Canada participated in both the air-to-ground and air-to-air roles.  Canadian aircraft conducted 10 percent of the NATO strike sorties despite deploying a much smaller percentage of the overall forces.  Canadian pilots flew 678 combat sorties - 120 defensive counter-air escorts for Allied strike packages and 558 bombing strikes during 2,577 combat flying hours.  CF-18s dropped a total of 397 PGMs and 171 free-fall iron bombs on a wide variety of targets including surface-to-air missile sites, airfields, bridges and fuel storage areas.

Canada had already been involved in enforcing the “no-fly” zone over Bosnia through personnel deployed to the NATO Airborne Early Warning squadron, operating under the NATO name Operation DELIBERATE FORGE. When this operation ended and Operation DETERMINED FORCE began, the NATO AWACS personnel made the transition. The aircraft would fly over other nations bordering the former Yugoslavia to monitor the situation in the airspace over that country. This operation did not have a Canadian operation name.

In a show of NATO resolve, Canada announced on 20 June 1998 that six CF-188 Hornets would deploy to Aviano, Italy to enhance Alliance capabilities and improve Canada’s response time to any crisis in the area. The Hornets would be available for NATO demonstration exercises, as well as enforcing the “no-fly” zone. They deployed under NATO Operation DELIBERATE FORGE, the Canadian name of which was Operation ECHO. When Operation DETERMINED FORCE began, these aircraft and personnel made the transition to the new operation, which was also given the Canadian name Operation ECHO.

The six CF-188s averaged about 80 missions a month, mostly over Bosnia. Each sortie lasted about 2 ½ hours and was an international effort, involving airborne refueling aircraft, airborne early warning aircraft and controllers from several nations. The Canadian effort was also a broad one. Task Force Aviano (TFA) personnel rotated on a six-month schedule, with pilots rotating every three months. Most personnel were either from 3 Wing Bagotville or 4 Wing Cold Lake; however, personnel from across the Air Force augmented these two Wings. The occupations of TFA also represented most Air Force occupations.

Support for Op Echo came from the Hercules and Airbuses of 435, 436 and 437 Squadrons. Weekly resupply flights in support of Op ECHO, and Op PALLADIUM (NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia) brought personnel, equipment, parts and supplies to TFA.

With the degeneration of the situation in Kosovo, followed by the failure of negotiations, Op DETERMINED FORCE ended on 23 March 1999 when NATO authorized Operation ALLIED FORCE. Canada entered Op ALLIED FORCE with six CF-188s and about 130 people. Overall, about 275 CF personnel took part in Op DETERMINED FORCE.

NATO medal for operations over Kosovo