PETERSON AIR FORCE, Colo. –
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.