“Operation Deliberate Force” was a sustained air campaign conducted by NATO to undermine the military capability of Bosnian Serb who threatened or attacked UN designated safe areas in Bosnia. The operation was carried out between 30 August 1995 to 20 September 1995 involving 400 aircraft and 5000 personnel from 15 nations.

During the campaign, a total of 3515 sorties were flown against 338 individual targets. Aircraft involved in the campaign used to operate from Italy and the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt. 68% of the bombs used in this campaign were PGMs.

Bosnian Serb’s integrated air defense network comprising of aircraft and SAM presented a high-threat environment to the allied air operations. A French Mirage 2000 was shot down by Serbian SAM on 30 August 1995. However, at the end, the air attacks were effective in bringing the Serbs to the negotiation table.

Operation Deliberate Force proved that airpower can be decisive when employed with clear political objectives.

External Link

Operation Deliberate Force by John Pike at Globalsecurity.org