Operation Echo

Operation Echo
Part of the Kosovo War
CF-18 Hornets depart Aviano Air Base, Italy
Date 1999 Location Kosovo, Yugoslavia Result Canadian victory[1]
Belligerents
Canada	Yugoslavia
Commanders and leaders
Jean Chrétien	Slobodan Milošević
Units involved
Air Command	Yugoslav Armed Forces

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.^[2]

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, due to this, the operation was considered as a victory for the Canadian Air Command as they fulfilled their first and biggest goal, inducing a Serbian withdrawal from Kosovo.^[3]