TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. –
Members from the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s continental U.S. Region and First Air Force, Air Forces Northern are participating with Mexico’s National Defense Forces (SEDENA) and interagency partners in AMALGAM EAGLE 21, a NORAD live-fly exercise, July 14-15, 2021.
“This exercise rehearses the combined efforts between our two countries to handle prohibited air events while simultaneously building upon the trusted relationships we’ve developed over the years,” said Pat Glynn, an exercise planner and participant for CONR, 1AF (AFNORTH).
This exercise consists of flights along the U.S. and Mexico border by various aircraft capable of detection and interception.
“Planning for the exercise was conducted with full respect for the sovereignty of each country and has been done with such regards since 2014 when the Amalgam Eagle Exercises first began,” added Glynn.
Representatives from AFNORTH, the 601st Air Operations Center, the Federal Aviation Administration and Customs and Borders Protection’s — Air and Marine Operations (AMO) are participating in the exercise, while participants from Mexico will include members of the Air Force, Civil Aviation Authority, and Air Traffic Control Agency.
The exercise will focus on the following objectives:
• Improve the operational and communications capabilities between AFNORTH and SEDENA-SIVA to provide a common operational picture;
• Conduct detection, identification and interception operations of simulated illicit or threatening air targets, through the exchange of information;
• Continue working on the design and use of communications protocols regarding illicit aircraft transiting U.S. and Mexico airspace; and,
• Execute procedures to improve interception and transfer of targets of interest between Mexico and the United States
CONR'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. AFNORTH is responsible for homeland defense, defense support of civil authorities and theater security cooperation. AFNORTH provides Department of Defense capabilities for disaster response operations in support of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, NIFC and state and local officials.
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For more information about CONR and 1AF-US AFNORTHCOM, refer to https://www.1af.acc.af.mil/