An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Press Releases
Press Release | July 13, 2018

NORAD, USNORTHCOM and the Mexican Air Force successfully accomplish objectives in AMALGAM EAGLE 18

NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  –   The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, along with Mexico’s National Defense Forces (SEDENA), successfully conducted AMALGAM EAGLE 18, a field training exercise, which enhanced mutual warning and information sharing procedures in support of a cooperative response to a simulation of an illicit flight that crossed the U.S. – Mexico border.

“AMALGAM EAGLE 18 was designed to test and validate communications between Mexico and the U.S. among civil and military agencies, in the handling of illicit air events, and based on the results of this exercise, we succeeded,” said Mr. Joseph Bonnet, the director of Joint Training and Exercises for NORAD and USNORTHCOM. “Most importantly, exercises such as AMALGAM EAGLE serve to expand and enhance our trusted relationships with our partners and friends in all levels of the Mexican government.”

Representatives from the Mexican Air Force, NORAD and USNORTHCOM, conducted AMALGAM EAGLE 18 exercise July 11, in the skies over the United States and Mexico, and in command centers located in Mexico City and in Colorado Springs, Colorado, strengthening the cooperation and partnerships between our countries.

AMALGAM EAGLE is an exercise series including command post exercises and field training exercises, designed to enhance airspace control procedures between the U.S. and Mexican militaries, supported by civilian agencies from both countries in response to a simulated illicit flight event.

The exercise consisted of two phases. The first phase consisted of practicing the procedures for the handover of a derelict aircraft – a term used when an aircraft is not under human control. The second phase focused on national procedures for monitoring an illegal flight event and the cooperative hand off of the illicit aircraft from one nation to the other, while exchanging air tracking information.

The main objectives of this exercise series are to maintain the operational and communications capabilities between NORAD and USNORTHCOM, and SEDENA, to facilitate a continental air domain common operational picture; and to continue developing and using communications protocols regarding illicit aircraft transiting U.S. - Mexico airspace, while demonstrating mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty.

"We have conducted AMALGAM EAGLE exercises over the past five years," added Bonnet. "In that period of time, these exercises have grown in scope and complexity, and have mutually benefited our military forces in building capacity and capabilities. Today, the Mexican and U.S. militaries enjoy outstanding collaborative relationships, based on trust and confidence, which are critically important to future cooperation and mutual support in response to a crisis such as an illicit flight that crosses the U.S. - Mexico border."

NORAD's mission – in close collaboration with homeland defense, security and law enforcement partners – is to conduct aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning in defense of North America.

USNORTHCOM is responsible for homeland defense, defense support of civil authorities and theater security cooperation. USNORTHCOM provides DoD capabilities for disaster response operations in support of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, NIFC and state and local officials.

For more information, contact NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs at (719) 554-6889.