A NORAD air defense exercise with F-16 fighter aircraft is planned off the Florida coast today.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will conduct Exercise FALCON VIRGO, a live-fly air defense exercise, on September 9th between noon and 2pm off the coast of Florida between Port St. John and Melbourne.
Under the direction of the Continental U.S. NORAD Region, NORAD aircraft participating in the exercise include F-16 fighter aircraft. Some portions of the may be visible from the ground.
NORAD routinely conducts exercises with various scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings, and responses to unknown aircraft. All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled.
FALCON VIRGO is a routine exercise in support of Operation Noble Eagle, encompassing all air sovereignty and air defense missions in North America.
Since its inception, NORAD aircraft have identified and intercepted potential air threats to North America, in the execution of its aerospace warning and aerospace control missions, and maintain a watchful eye over Canadian and U.S. internal waterways and maritime approaches under its maritime warning mission.
NORAD closely coordinates air defense activities with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NAV Canada, monitors those operations and responds to requests for assistance and emergency situations. NORAD works with the FAA and NavCanada to enforce temporary flight restriction areas, often referred to as TFRs. If a pilot unknowingly or intentionally enters a TFR in violation of FAA or NavCanada requirements and is not in communication with air traffic control, NORAD responds.
