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Press Releases
Press Release | Feb. 20, 2019

NORAD to conduct air defense exercise over Arizona, New Mexico

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  –   North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct air defense exercise flights today over southern Arizona and New Mexico between 10:00 a.m. and noon MST.

Citizens of Cochise, Hidalgo, Grant and Luna counties may see NORAD F-16 fighter jets and a general aviation Beechcraft Baron aircraft flying as low as 2,000 feet during this exercise.

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

The defense of North America 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.

Operation NOBLE EAGLE is the name given to the military response following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and applies to all air sovereignty and air defense missions in North America. NORAD is a bi-national command focused on the defense of both the U.S. and Canada, the response to potential aerospace threats does not distinguish between the two nations, and draws on forces from both countries.