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Press Releases
Press Release | Aug. 1, 2016

NORAD fighters conduct intercept exercises in U.S., Canada

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  –  

North American Aerospace Defense Command, in close collaboration with U.S. Strategic Command, conducted intercept and safe passage escort procedures in all three of its regions Aug. 1, 2016. The exercises were carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure NORAD’s rapid response capability.

The training was conducted within the Alaskan NORAD Region, Canadian NORAD Region, and Continental United States NORAD Region as USSTRATCOM B-52s and B-2s conducted flights through each of the regions.

“These bomber flights provided NORAD with an excellent opportunity to hone our air defense capabilities, while also allowing us the opportunity to closely coordinate our operations with our allies and the geographic combatant commands,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.

"Our ability to conduct intercept and safe passage escort procedures to coincide with American flights reinforces Canada's outstanding collaboration and interoperability with our closest ally. Canada and the United States continue to expand on our strong defence partnership.," said Canada’s Minister of National Defence Harjit S. Sajjan.

Intercept aircraft consisted of two F-22 fighters in ANR, two CF-18 fighters in CANR and two F-15 fighters in CONR.

These intercepts were conducted in order to hone Operation Noble Eagle procedures, cross-border interoperability and coordination, and to reinforce the enduring defense relationship between the United States and Canada.

NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that provides aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for Canada and the United States. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

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 For more information about NORAD, refer to http://www.norad.mil