North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is conducting Exercise Amalgam Dart, an arctic air defense exercise, from June 10 to 18, 2021. The exercise is featuring a variety of military aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and U.S. Air Force (USAF) operating out of Alaska U.S. and other northern locations including Inuvik, N.W.T., Yellowknife, N.W.T, 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta., 5 Wing Goose Bay, N.L, Iqaluit, Nun, CFS Alert, Nun, and Thule Air Base, Greenland.

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U.S. Air Force F-16s, Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18, and U.S. Air Force F-22 join up with a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress in the vicinity of the Beaufort Sea during North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Arctic air defense exercise, Amalgam Dart 21-2, March 24, 2021 (Picture source: CANR NORAD)

While the majority of exercise flights are conducted over sparsely populated Arctic areas and at high altitudes, where the public is not likely to hear or see them, there is increased aircraft activity at Inuvik, Yellowknife, Cold Lake, Iqaluit, Goose Bay, and Thule AB, Greenland.

In order to test responses, systems and equipment, NORAD routinely conducts exercises, all year long and in various weather conditions with a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responding to unknown aircraft. Exercise Amalgam Dart is designed to train and exercise our ability to conduct Operation Noble Eagle, the name given to the military response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and applies to all air defense missions in North America.

Participating U.S. military personnel will require two negative COVID-19 tests, separated by a minimum of 5 days, with the last test prior to arriving in Canada. All exercise participants will adhere to local, Territorial/Provincial, Federal and Canadian Armed Forces/Department of National Defence guidelines, regulations and orders regarding public health measures for the duration of Exercise Amalgam Dart.

NORAD continues to execute its missions with the same conviction and diligence that has been the command’s trademark since 1958.