NATO - Operation Unified Protector (Libya) - Norwegian Air Wing, Communications and Information Systems (CIS) sleeve patch, 2011

Embroidered on cloth base with a merrowed edging. The map on the patch is that of Crete, Greece, where the unit was based in 2011 during the operation.

Operation Unified Protector was a NATO operation in 2011 enforcing United Nations Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973 concerning the Libyan Civil War and adopted on 26 February and 17 March 2011, respectively. These resolutions imposed sanctions on key members of the Gaddafi government and authorized NATO to implement an arms embargo, a no-fly zone and to use all means necessary, short of foreign occupation, to protect Libyan civilians and civilian populated areas.

Royal Norwegian Air Force contributed 6 x F-16AM 15MLU fighter jets operating from Souda Air Base, Crete (until July 2011) and 2 x C-130J-30 tactical transport aircraft supporting the Norwegian forces (until July 2011). Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 fighters flew daily missions, and as of the end of July 2011, when Norway ceased its participation in military operations, the Air Force had dropped up to 600 bombs during the conflict and flown about 17% of the sorties to that point.