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NORAD NEWS
News | June 30, 2015

NORAD, USNORTHCOM and the Mexican Air Force to participate in AMALGAM EAGLE 15

By N-NC/PA

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), will participate, with the Mexican Air Force, in AMALGAM EAGLE 15, a tactical exercise, to be conducted Jun.30 - Jul.2, 2015, in which Mexico and the United States will respond to an illegal flight transiting the border of both countries. AMALGAM EAGLE 15 is designed to enhance air control procedures between both countries and lay the foundation to streamline a bi-national response.

U.S. representatives from NORAD, USNORTHCOM, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Transportation Security Administration will participate in the exercise, while participants from Mexico will include members of their Air Force, civil aviation agency, and federal aviation agency.

The exercise will focus on the following objectives:
-To facilitate active participation by NORAD and USNORTHCOM and Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense.
-Exercise and refine procedures for providing mutual warning and passing of information between the two countries regarding suspicious aircraft or illegal flight activity.
-Include information exchange systems such as All Partners Access Network (APAN) and Air and Marine Operations Surveillance System (AMOSS).
-Exercise and refine procedures to monitor, track and coordinate a response to an illegal flight transiting the U.S./Mexico border.

This activity will consist of flights by various aircraft capable of detection and interception, the deployment of observers to airports in Monterrey and Chihuahua, Mexico, and the establishment of communication channels, that will enhance reaction time, strengthen the existing links between participants of each nation, and develop its activities from various locations. Planning for the exercise was conducted with the full respect towards the sovereignty of each country and never considered having military units or intercepting aircraft cross the border by either country.

NORAD's mission – in close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners – is to prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America.

U.S. Northern Command is responsible for Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities. 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.