The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, will conduct an air defense exercise on Tuesday, February 14, between midnight and 2:30 a.m. EST, according to officials, in the Washington, DC, area.
The announcement came after a fourth object over the past week was shot down on Sunday, this time over Lake Huron in Michigan.
In this photo provided by Brian Branch, a large balloon hovers over the Kingston, North Carolina area, with an airplane and its contrail below. (Brian Branch via AP)
Tuesday’s exercise will be led by the Continental US NORAD Region and the aircraft will include NORAD F-16 fighter jets, MH-65D Dolphin helicopters from the US Coast, US Army C-12 jets, US and Cessna 182T Civil Air Patrol aircraft.
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Officials said some flights can take place at 2,500 feet, making them visible from the ground, and if weather interferes with operations, they will start the next day at the same time.
The agency said it conducts routine exercises that include a variety of scenarios, whether it be a hijacking, a response to an unknown aircraft or airspace restriction violations, and that all exercises are controlled and planned.
Several MH-65 Dolphin helicopters were part of the search efforts. (US Coast Guard)
Operation Noble Eagle, or ONE, is an aerospace warning and control exercise for North America that will be conducted by NORAD. Falcon Virgo, another routine exercise, supports ONE.
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“The Defense of North America is NORAD’s highest priority, and NORAD remains on standby 24/7,” said Lt. Gen. Kirk Pierce. “It is an honor to serve our citizens.”
NORAD has been identifying and intercepting potential airborne threats to North America for more than 60 years.
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As of Sunday, the United States shot down three objects over North America over the past week. The first object shot down was a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. The second and third objects are believed to be smaller balloons, which were shot down over Alaska and Canada, respectively.
