Canadian NORAD Region conducts airspace defence training with U.S. Strategic Command

   (DND, Ottawa) --- The Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) conducted comprehensive training yesterday in support of its mandate to detect, deter, and defend against all threats to North America’s sovereign airspace. 

   CANR conducted intercept and safe passage operations of two pairs of B-52 Stratofortress bombers returning from long range training flights through Canadian northern and eastern aerospace approaches.

Quick Facts

• CF-18 fighters were scrambled from 3 Wing in Bagotville, Québec, and 4 Wing in Cold Lake, Alberta, to intercept two B-52 Stratofortress bombers each in the northern and eastern extremity of the Canadian Air Defence Identification Zone (CADIZ) respectively.
• The B-52 Stratofortress bombers were operating as part of Exercise POLAR GROWL, a separate training event under the command of United States Strategic Command.
• NORAD KC-135 Stratotanker Air to Air Refuelers were launched from Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, and from Bangor Air National Guard Base in Bangor, Maine, to provide air-to-air refueling to the Canadian jets.
• The Canadian Air Defence Sector (CADS) from 22 Wing in North Bay, Ontario, conducted identification and aerospace control for the Canadian jets while they were conducting intercept training. CADS also ensured safe passage of the American B-52s through Canadian airspace once the training was completed.