NORAD gave notice they would conduct an ‘air defense’ exercise around Washington D.C. Tuesday.
NORAD gives notice of air defense exercise around Washington, DC, set for Tuesday https://t.co/6ffhpVHdSq
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 13, 2023
The notice follows reports of the military shooting down an aerial object over Lake Huron.
While the timing of the exercise raises suspicions, considering multiple 'UFO' sightings, NORAD claims it's a monthly air defense drill.
Washingtonian explained:
Indeed, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will practice routine air defense drills over DC from midnight to 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 14. Major Andrew Scott, a NORAD Public Operations Officer, said tomorrow’s drills are part of regularly scheduled operations.
According to a press release provided to Washingtonian by Scott, some of these exercises may be visible from the ground, as some flights will take place at 2,500 feet. Participating aircraft include Air Force F-15 fighter jets, a US Coast Guard MH-65D Dolphin helicopter, a US Army C-12 aircraft, and a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182T General Aviation aircraft. These operations will be overseen by the Continental US NORAD Region.
NORAD conducts monthly defense exercises of the National Capital region, called Falcon Virgo. Falcon Virgo works “to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification operations during airspace security events,” according to their website. Falcon Virgo is part of a larger operation, Operation Noble Eagle, NORAD’s mission to protect the United States and Canada from airspace threats, which was instituted after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Don't be alarmed if you hear or see jets after midnight. NORAD says it's a monthly air defense drill. https://t.co/W34c0Wv1pS
— Washingtonian 🌸 (@washingtonian) February 13, 2023
"The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will conduct exercise Falcon Virgo, a live-fly air defense exercise on February 14th between midnight and 2:30 a.m. EST in the National Capital Region," the NORAD press release stated.
Cont. from NORAD:
Under the direction of the Continental U.S. NORAD Region, aircraft participating in the exercise include U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets, U.S. Coast Guard MH-65D Dolphin helicopter, U.S. Army C-12 aircraft, and Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182T general aviation aircraft.
Some portions of the exercise may involve flights at approximately 2,500 feet and may be visible from the ground. If weather prevents these regularly scheduled flights, the exercise is scheduled to commence the next day at the same time.
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. ONE is the assigned mission to NORAD to conduct aerospace warning and control for North America.
"The defense of North America is NORAD's top priority, and NORAD remains on alert around the clock, every day," said Lt. Gen. Kirk Pierce, CONR commander. “It is an honor to serve our citizens.”
For more than 60 years, 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.
Still, the timing of the announcement heightens suspicions that this won't be a 'routine' drill.
Fox News highlighted the recent uptick in objects shot down in American airspace.
Up until Sunday, the U.S. shot down three objects over North America during the past week. The first object taken down was a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. The second and third objects are believed to be smaller balloons, which were shot down over Alaska and Canada, respectively.
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