TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. –
The North American Aerospace Defense Command’s continental U.S. region (CONR) will conduct Operation NOBLE DEFENDER, involving military aircraft from the United States Air Force and United States Navy, as well as a United States Navy ship, June 29, 2022.
"This operation provides NORAD aircraft, flight crews and support personnel the opportunity to rapidly deploy an agile combat employment (ACE) team that provides defensive counter-air capability along the southern approach to the Continental United States," said Lt. Gen. Kirk Pierce, Continental U.S. NORAD Region.
NORAD operations are carefully planned and controlled. This iteration of Operation NOBLE DEFENDER is designed to confirm the Continental United States NORAD Region’s capabilities, including defensive maneuvers against simulated cruise missile attacks along the southern approach.
Simultaneously, Continental U.S. NORAD Region will launch fighter aircraft from multiple aerospace control alert sites along the gulf coast and pre-positioned aircraft at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, east of San Juan Puerto Rico, while integrating with the Navy to identify and defend against the simulated cruise missile threats.”
"Our fighter, airborne early warning, command and control sector commands, and air refueling teams will have the opportunity to train together as we would operate if called upon as required to deter aggressive actions and defend North America, “ Lt. Gen. Pierce continued.
NOBLE DEFENDER includes U.S. Air Force F-15 & F-16 fighter aircraft operating out of Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, Houston, Texas; Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La..; and Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. The KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft are operating out of St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Additionally, a U.S. Navy Destroyer and E-2 Hawkeye Airborne Command and Control aircraft will participate in the operation.
Operation NOBLE DEFENDER is a series of NORAD operations that validate the command’s capability to defend Canada and the United States from every avenue of approach, and demonstrate the ability to integrate with other defense and security partners for a holistic defense of North America.
NORAD is a bi-national Canadian and American command. NORAD employs a network of space-based, aerial and ground-based sensors, air-to-air refueling tankers, and fighter aircraft on alert, controlled by a sophisticated command and control network to detect, deter, and defend against aerial threats that originate outside or within North American airspace.
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