July 26, 2016 –
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), will participate, with the Mexican Air Force, in AMALGAM EAGLE 16, a tactical exercise, to be conducted 26-28 July, 2016, in which Mexico and the United States will respond to a simulation of an illicit flight transiting the airspace of both countries. AMALGAM EAGLE 16 is designed to enhance mutual warning and information sharing procedures in support of a cooperative response to an illicit flight that crosses the border.
U.S. representatives from NORAD, USNORTHCOM, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air and Marine Operations Center, and the Transportation Security Administration will participate in the exercise, while participants from Mexico will include members of their Air Force, Civil Aviation Authority, and Air Traffic Control Agency.
The exercise will focus on the following objectives:
-To facilitate active participation by NORAD and USNORTHCOM and Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense.
-Exercise and refine procedures for providing U.S. – Mexico mutual warning and passing of information regarding an illicit flight that transits U.S. – Mexico airspace.
-Establish and exercise military-civilian procedures for responding to an illicit flight transiting the U.S. - Mexico airspace.
-Employ a “start-to-finish” approach to air interdiction from intelligence driven operations to final resolution.
This activity will consist of flights by various aircraft capable of detection and interception, the deployment of observers to locations in Mexico and the United States, and the establishment of communication channels which will enhance reaction time and strengthen the existing links between participants of each nation. Planning for the exercise was conducted with full respect for the sovereignty of each country and does not involve any military units or aircraft crossing the international border in either direction.
NORAD's mission – in close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners – is to conduct aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning in defense of North America.
U.S. Northern Command is responsible for Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities. USNORTHCOM provides DOD capabilities for disaster response operations in support of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, NIFC, and state and local officials.
For more information, contact NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs at (719) 554-6889.
For more information about NORAD or USNORTHCOM, refer to http://www.norad.mil/ or http://www.northcom.mil/
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