List of Royal Air Force operations

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.

== Current == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Name ! From ! To ! Location ! Notes |- |Aluminium |2022, February |Present |Poland & Romania |UK contribution to NATO's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 February 2022 |title=RAF Typhoons reinforce NATO's response to Russia-Ukraine crisis |url=https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-typhoons-reinforce-natos-response-to-russia-ukraine-crisis/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115155011/https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-typhoons-reinforce-natos-response-to-russia-ukraine-crisis/ |archive-date=15 November 2023 |access-date=15 November 2023 |website=www.raf.mod.uk}}</ref> |- |Azotize |2023, March |Present |Lithuania & Estonia<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=RAF Typhoons Wow Lithuanian Crowds |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/raf-typhoons-wow-lithuanian-crowds-20052014 |access-date=2016-12-29 |website=www.raf.mod.uk |publisher=}}</ref> |UK contribution to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2020-09-02 |title=Op Azotize: What Was The RAF's Role In Lithuania? |url=https://www.forces.net/news/op-azotize-what-raf-doing-lithuania |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Forces Network |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Permanent Representatives to NATO visits Operation Azotize {{!}} Royal Air Force |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/permanent-representatives-to-nato-visits-operation-azotize/}}</ref> |- |Biloxi |2017, April |Present |Romania |UK contribution to NATO's Southern Air Policing mission.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=29 August 2017 |title=RAF Typhoons hand over NATO Romania duties to Canada |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/raf-typhoons-hand-over-nato-romania-duties-to-canada-29082017 |access-date=29 August 2017 |website=Royal Air Force |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829145835/https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/raf-typhoons-hand-over-nato-romania-duties-to-canada-29082017/ |archive-date=29 August 2017}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Members of Parliament visit RAF personnel on Enhanced Air Policing mission, Operation Biloxi {{!}} Royal Air Force |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/members-of-parliament-visit-raf-personnel-on-enhanced-air-policing-mission-operation-biloxi/ |access-date=2018-07-22 |website=www.raf.mod.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> |- |Broadshare |2020, January |Present |British Overseas Territories & overseas military bases |Military assistance to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic overseas. |- |Kipion |2011, June |Present |Oman, UAE, Qatar |UK air presence in the Persian Gulf & Indian Ocean.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=RAF - 83EAG |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/83eag/ |access-date=2016-12-29 |website=www.raf.mod.uk |publisher=}}</ref> |- |Shader |2014, 26 September |Present |Iraq & Syria, operating from RAF Akrotiri<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Grzeszczyk |first=Sian |date=2022-09-26 |title=Eight years of Operation Shader: The UK's mission against IS |url=https://www.forces.net/operations/eight-years-operation-shader |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Forces Network |language=en}}</ref> |Providing humanitarian aid airdrops, reconnaissance and airstrikes as part of the military intervention against ISIL.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Six Years of Operation Shader {{!}} Royal Air Force |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/six-years-of-operation-shader/}}</ref> |}

== Previous == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Name !! From !! To !! Location !! Notes |- |Accolade | | |Rhodes |Cancelled, part of the Dodecanese campaign, World War II.{{sfn|Grant|1979|p=121}} |- |Banner |data-sort-value="1969-08-00"|1969, August |2007, July |Northern Ireland |Military support to the Royal Ulster Constabulary/Police Service of Northern Ireland |- | Bolton || data-sort-value="1998-00-00" | 1998 || 2003 || Southern Iraq || Part of Operation Southern Watch |- |Boomster |data-sort-value="2018-03-00"|2018, March |2018, March |United Kingdom |Military Aid following extreme weather conditions<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-43285331|title=RAF flies supplies into snowed-in areas|date=2018-03-05|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-07-28|language=en-GB}}</ref> |- | Bushell | data-sort-value="1984-11-00"| 1984, November | 1985, December | Ethiopia | Famine relief<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Green |first1=William |author1-link= |last2=Swanborough |first2=Gordon |title=Operation Bushell Ends |magazine=Air International |date=March 1986 |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=118–123 |issn=0306-5634}}</ref> |- | Chocolate | data-sort-value="1942-11-12"| 12 November 1942 |13 November 1942 | | Part of the Western Desert Campaign, World War II.{{sfn|Grant|1979|p=119}} |- |Coral |data-sort-value="2003-06-14"|2003, 14 June |2003, 10 September |Democratic Republic of Congo |Humanitarian operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo |- | Corporate | data-sort-value="1982-04-02"| 2 April 1982 | 14 June 1982 | Falkland Islands | Part of the Falklands War<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/C0054AE0_1143_EC82_2EE9013F84C9F82E.pdf|title=Spirit of the Air Volume 2 Number 4 2007 - Falklands Commemorative|last=|first=|date=|website=www.raf.mod.uk|publisher=|access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref> |- | Decisive Edge | data-sort-value="1996-01-00"| January 1996 | December 1996 | Bosnia and Herzegovina<br>Croatia | Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{sfn|Cotter|2008|p=72}} |- | Deliberate Force | data-sort-value="1995-08-30"| 30 August 1995 | 14 September 1995 | Bosnia and Herzegovina<br>Croatia | Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{sfn|Cotter|2008|p=72}} |- | Deliberate Guard | data-sort-value="1996-12-00"| December 1996 | April 1998 | Bosnia and Herzegovina<br>Croatia | Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Formerly Op Decisive Edge.{{sfn|Cotter|2008|p=72}} |- | Deny Flight | data-sort-value="1993-04-12"| 12 April 1993 | 20 December 1995 | Bosnia and Herzegovina<br>Croatia | Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{sfn|Cotter|2008|p=72}} |- Operation Determinant -1997 Evacuation and support operation based in Libreville, Gabon and Brazavillle, Congo - responding to the fall of the government of Zaire. | Ellamy | data-sort-value="2011-03-19"| 19 March 2011 | 31 October 2011 | Libya | Part of the 2011 military intervention in Libya |- | Engadine | data-sort-value="1999-00-00"| 1999 | 1999 | Kosovo | Part of NATO operations in Kosovo<ref name="AFMAPR16-6">{{cite book|title=AirForces Monthly|date=April 2016|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|location=Stamford, Lincolnshire, England|pages=6}}</ref> |- | Fingal | data-sort-value="2002-01-01"| 1 January 2002 | 2002 | Afghanistan & Asia | Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021){{sfn|Cotter|2008|p=73}} |- |Fresco |data-sort-value="2002-00-00"|2002 |2003 |United Kingdom |Military support during the UK firefighters' dispute |- | Granby || data-sort-value="1990-10-01" | 1 October 1990 || March 1991 || Iraq & Asia || Part of the Gulf War |- | Gritrock || data-sort-value="2014-10-30" | 30 October 2014 || 13 November 2015 || West Africa || UK military contribution to the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa |- | Herrick || data-sort-value="2002-06-20" | 20 June 2002 || 12 December 2014 || Afghanistan & Asia || Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) |- |Highbrow |data-sort-value="2006-00-00"|2006 |2006 |Lebanon via Cyprus |UK military support to evacuation operation from Beirut.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/C0E9CE90_1143_EC82_2E09419AEA63ACDB.pdf|title=Spirit of the Air: December 2006|last=|first=|date=|website=www.raf.mod.uk|publisher=|pages=21–24|access-date=29 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207041016/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/C0E9CE90_1143_EC82_2E09419AEA63ACDB.pdf|archive-date=7 December 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | Jural || data-sort-value="1992-00-00" | 1992 || 1998 || Southern Iraq || Part of Operation Southern Watch |- | Khana Cascade || data-sort-value="1973-03-00" | March 1973 || March 1973 || Nepal || Airlift to villagers.{{sfn|Cotter|2008|p=71}} |- |Luminous |data-sort-value="2013-08-00"|August 2013 |November 2013 |Cyprus |Protection of UK Sovereign Base Areas<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafakrotiri/amenities/history.cfm|title=RAF Akrotiri - History|date=|website=www.raf.mod.uk|publisher=|access-date=2016-12-29|quote=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.}}</ref> |- |Masterer |data-sort-value="2019-11-00"|November 2019 |December 2019 |Iceland |UK contribution to NATO's Icelandic Air Policing Mission<ref>{{Cite web|last=Redefyne|title=NATO: RAF Typhoons over Iceland - EU Today|url=https://eutoday.net/news/security-defence/2019/nato-raf-typhoons-over-iceland|access-date=2020-06-05|website=eutoday.net|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Royal Air Force|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref> |- |Maturin |data-sort-value="2005-10-00"|October 2005 |January 2006 |Pakistan and Kashmir |UK military contribution to humanitarian operations following earthquake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo051122/text/51122w25.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 22 Nov 2005 (pt 25)|last=Westminster|first=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons|website=www.publications.parliament.uk|access-date=2016-12-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/downloads/RAFpublications/sota_vol1_no1_pt1.pdf|title=Spirit of the Air; Volume 1|last=|first=|date=|website=www.raf.mod.uk|publisher=|pages=6–12|access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref> |- | Microbe | data-sort-value="1943-09-13"| 13 September 1943 | 22 November 1943 | Rhodes | Part of the Dodecanese campaign, World War II.{{sfn|Grant|1979|p=121}} |- |Newcombe |data-sort-value="2013-01-13"|13 January 2013 |14 November 2022 |West Africa |Operation 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).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/3-raf-chinooks-arrive-in-mali/|title=Three Royal Air Force Chinooks arrive in Mali|date=2018-07-19|work=UK Defence Journal|access-date=2018-07-22|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21004040|title=Mali: RAF C17 cargo plane to help French operation|date=2013-01-13|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-12-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21200718|title=Mali: RAF surveillance aircraft Sentinel deployed|date=2013-01-25|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-12-29}}</ref> |- |Palliser |data-sort-value="2000-05-00"|May 2000 |September 2000 |Sierra Leone |UK military intervention in Sierra Leone |- |Pitting |data-sort-value="2021-08-13"|13 August 2021 |28 August 2021 |Afghanistan |Evacuating British nationals and eligible Afghans from Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive. |- |Plainfare | data-sort-value="1948-06-24"| 24 June 1948 | 12 May 1949 | Allied-occupied Germany | Part of the Cold War.{{sfn|Grant|1979|p=154}} |- | Rescript | data-sort-value="2020-03-23" | 23 March 2020 || 2022 || United Kingdom || Homeland military operation to support tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. |- | Resinate | data-sort-value="2001-00-00" | 2001 || 2003 || Iraq || Maintaining no-fly zones in Iraq.<ref name="AFMAPR16-6" /> |- |River | data-sort-value="1944-05-27"| 27 May 1944 | | | Part of World War II.{{sfn|Grant|1979|p=139}} |- |Ruman |data-sort-value="2017-09-00"|September 2017 |October 2017 |Caribbean |Providing relief to the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Irma.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Operation Ruman |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/operations/old-operations/op-ruman}}</ref> |- | Shaku || data-sort-value="2016-12-00" | December 2016 || December 2016 || Northern England || Repairing flood defences during the 2015–16 Great Britain and Ireland floods.<ref name="AFMMAR16-30">{{cite book|title=AirForces Monthly|date=March 2016|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|location=Stamford, Lincolnshire, England|pages=30}}</ref> |- | Stamina || data-sort-value="1944-07-00" | July 1944 || || || Part of World War II{{sfn|Grant|1979|p=141}} |- | Telic || data-sort-value="2003-03-19" | 19 March 2003 || 22 May 2011 || Iraq & Asia || Part of the Iraq War |- | Thursday || data-sort-value="1944-03-05" | 5 March 1944 || || Burma || Part of the Burma Campaign, World War II |- |Toral |data-sort-value="2015-00-00"|2015 |8 July 2021 |Afghanistan |UK's contribution to NATO's Resolute Support Mission |- |Trenton |data-sort-value="2017-00-00"|2017 |2020 |South Sudan |British contribution to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). |- |Turus |April 2014 |April 2024 |Nigeria |Training and supporting the Nigerian Armed Forces to help it counter violent extremists. |- | Veritas || data-sort-value="2001-00-00" | 2001 || 20 June 2002 || Afghanistan & Asia || Part of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan |- | Vigour || data-sort-value="1992-12-12" | 12 December 1992 || 12 December 1992 || Kenya || Relief flights.{{sfn|Cotter|2008|p=72}} |- | Warden || data-sort-value="1991-09-00" | September 1991 || 1991 || Iraq || {{sfn|Cotter|2008|p=72}} |- | Wildhorn || data-sort-value="1944-00-00" | 1944 || 1994 || Poland || Part of the World War II.{{sfn|Grant|1979|p=145}} |}

==References==

===Citations=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== *{{cite book |last1=Grant |first1=R |last2=Cole |first2=C |title=But Not in Anger |year=1979 |publisher= Ian Allan Ltd |location= UK |isbn=0-7110-0909-0|ref= {{harvid|Grant|1979}} }} *{{cite book |last1=Cotter |first1=J |title=Royal Air Force celebrating 90 years |year=2008 |publisher= Key Publishing Ltd |location= Stamford, UK|isbn=978-0-946219-11-7 }}

* *