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Press Releases
Press Release | Jan. 8, 2019

NORAD AIR DEFENSE EXERCISE PLANNED FOR NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION

NORAD Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  –  

North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct air exercise Falcon Virgo Wednesday, Jan. 9, in the National Capitol Region between 12:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. EST. 

 

One MH-65D Dolphin helicopter, one C-21 Learjet and two Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182T aircraft will participate in exercise Falcon Virgo. Some portions of the exercise could involve flights at approximately 2,500 feet above ground level and may be visible from the ground. If weather prevents regularly scheduled flights, the exercise will commence the next day.

 

In order to test responses, systems and equipment, NORAD continuously conducts exercises with a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responding to unknown aircraft. All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled.

 

Falcon Virgo is a recurring exercise in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE. ONE started as the military response to the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, to place a greater emphasis on the surveillance and control of airspace over Canada and the United States.

 

Defense of the homelands is NORAD's top priority. NORAD is on alert around the clock, every day. For 60 years, NORAD aircraft have identified and intercepted potential air threats to North America in the execution of its aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning missions.

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