Feb. 25, 2025
NORAD conducts Operation NOBLE DEFENDER in Pituffik, Greenland
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – From January 28 to February 11, 2025, American and Canadian personnel and aircraft from all three North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Regions deployed to Pituffik Space Base, Greenland to form the 41st Air Expeditionary Group (AEG) in support of Operation NOBLE DEFENDER (OND). This operation occurs at planned intervals and builds on long-standing defensive cooperation between the United States, Canada, and the Kingdom of Denmark to enhance capabilities, readiness, and ability to deter competitors.
First designated a NORAD air defense operation in 2018, OND demonstrates NORAD’s ability to defend the approaches of North America from current and future threats, maintain mission readiness in diverse and challenging environments, and to preserve capacity for follow-on operations. These objectives are met by integrating capability across multi- and complimentary domains in collaboration with NATO Allies.
This most recent OND saw the deployment of roughly 125 Canadian and American NORAD personnel from the Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR), the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) and the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR). Participating NORAD aircraft included F-16s, KC-135s, E-3s, CF-18s, C-150s and CH-149s. Royal Danish Air Force standby Search and Rescue (SAR) support was a critical enabler.
During the operation, local temperatures were regularly below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, with the coldest days reaching minus 29 degrees F (-34 C) and a wind chill of minus 56 degrees F (-49 C). Maintenance and Civil Engineering airmen operated tirelessly in these conditions to ensure aircrews were able to conduct flying missions.
Each iteration of OND strengthens and progresses NORAD’s missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America.
Quotes
“Over the last three weeks, our integrated American and Canadian NORAD teams have demonstrated the ability to operate at the highest level in one of the most austere environments in the world. I am immensely proud of them and their dedication to this mission and appreciate the close cooperation from the Kingdom of Denmark as we train for the defense of Canada and the United States across all domains.”
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Shemo, 41st AEG Commander
Quick Facts:
- NORAD is the world’s only bi-national command charged with aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for the United States and Canada. The Command employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars, and fighter aircraft in the defense of the two countries.
- All OND activity is conducted in full cooperation with the government of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Government of Greenland has been informed of the operation. NORAD is committed to working with our NATO Allies to ensure that the Arctic remains secure.
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Contacts: For further information, please contact NORAD Public Affairs at (719) 554-6889 or via email at n-ncpa.omb@mail.mil.
For questions pertaining to the participation of the Kingdom of Denmark, please contact: EUCOM Public Affairs
For questions directed to the U.S. regarding U.S./Kingdom of Denmark relations, please contact the State Department. For questions directed to Canada regarding Canada/Kingdom of Denmark relations, please contact Global Affairs Canada.
Imagery
DVIDS OND page
Social Media
NORAD: https://www.facebook.com/NORADCommand/ https://twitter.com/NORADCommand
ANR: https://www.facebook.com/ALCOMANR https://twitter.com/ANRALCOM
CANR: https://twitter.com/RCAFOperations https://www.facebook.com/RCAF.ARC
CONR: www.facebook.com/FirstAirForce www.facebook.com/AmericasAOC
www.twitter.com/1stAF
Additional links: