NORAD training planned across Canada's North

Royal Canadian Air Force

Ottawa, April 3rd, 2014

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR), will conduct a major training exercise at various locations in Canada's North during the first two weeks of April.

This operation, which has been planned since last year, will see the deployment of Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aircraft and personnel to Inuvik and Yellowknife, N.W.T., Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Goose Bay, N.L.. Residents in those communities may notice increased flight activity due to the deployment activities and flying operations.

Quick Facts

- This operation is the culmination of a nearly six-month planning effort and is designed to exercise CANR's ability to operate at forward operating locations across the North. The exercise will consist of a series of training flights held in coordination with Nav Canada, the Canadian Air Defence Sector, and the Alaskan NORAD Region.

- Aircraft deployed to these locations will include a combination of CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft, CC-130T Hercules and CC-150T Polaris air-to-air refueling aircraft, and other support aircraft as part of deployment and redeployment activities.

- These operations are carefully planned to ensure NORAD's rapid response capability. NORAD routinely conducts exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. and Canada.

- On behalf of NORAD, the RCAF maintains a combination of forward operating locations across Canada so that assets can be strategically placed to accomplish the NORAD mission: to deter, detect, and defend against potential threats.

- The surveillance and control of North American airspace remains a primary mission focus for the men and women of NORAD. NORAD continues to maintain robust air defence capabilities to ensure air sovereignty over North America.

Quotes

"NORAD has a great responsibility in its primary mission of aerospace defense of North America. I'm proud to see that the men and women of NORAD continually remain vigilant and ready, as we stand watch over North America."
General Chuck Jacoby
Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Northern Command

"Exercising our ability to operate at our forward operating locations across the North is crucial to ensuring we are ready to respond at a moment's notice."
Major-General Pierre St-Amand
Commander, 1 Canadian Air Division and the Canadian NORAD Region

Useful links

Royal Canadian Air Force

North American Aerospace Defense Command