All articles tagged with #norad
NORAD detected and tracked two Tu-95s, two Su-35s, and one A-50 operating in the Alaskan ADIZ on Feb. 19, 2026. It dispatched two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3, and four KC-135s to intercept, positively identify, and escort them until they departed; the aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. NORAD said the activity is routine and not a threat.
U.S. NORAD scrambled F-16s, F-35s and KC-135s to escort two Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighters and an A-50 spy plane off the Alaska ADIZ; the aircraft did not enter U.S. or Canadian airspace, and NORAD described the incident as a routine, non-threatening rotation as they departed.
Canada unveils a Defense Industrial Strategy called 'Buy Canadian' to cut its dependency on the United States by boosting domestic production, creating about 125,000 jobs, and expanding sovereign capabilities. It sets out doubling defense expenditures to C$80 billion over five years, with C$45 billion annually for domestic resilience as part of NATO commitments, and aims to hit 2% of GDP on defense this year and 5% by 2035. The plan seeks to raise Canadian-owned share of defense acquisitions to 70%, boost exports by 50%, R&D by 85%, and industry revenues by over C$5.1 billion annually, while pursuing deeper partnerships with Europe and Indo-Pacific allies and protecting Arctic sovereignty. It also pledges a list of defense champions by summer and emphasizes 10 sovereign capabilities (AI, quantum, missiles, drones, etc.). The release was delayed after a mass shooting in British Columbia.
Canada’s plan to replace its CF-18s with an F-35 fleet is showing signs of collapse as Ottawa weighs Saab’s Gripen E/F offer, which includes thousands of local jobs and a domestic production hub, in a potential mixed‑fleet approach. The decision faces scrutiny over technology transfer, timelines, and NORAD implications, with a 2024 auditor review and ongoing U.S. readiness/diplomatic concerns adding to the uncertainty.
Canada is reviewing its plan to buy 88 F-35 fighters, with Saab’s Gripen pitched as a cheaper, sovereignty-focused alternative that offers modern sensors, electronic warfare, and potential in‑country sustainment and jobs. Proponents say the Gripen’s cost and capability meet Canada’s core missions—interception, patrol, maritime defense, and Arctic air sovereignty—without needing fifth‑generation stealth, making a mixed Gripen/F‑35 fleet feasible, while critics warn that reduced U.S. interoperability could complicate NORAD and future defense needs. Ottawa will weigh cost, sovereignty, and alliance considerations in deciding whether to pursue Gripen or the full F‑35 program.
Tariffs under the Trump administration have effectively muzzled early talks with allies on the Golden Dome space-based missile defense shield, as Gen. Michael Guetlein pursues a fast, decades-long deployment schedule that would field a network of space sensors and interceptors by the late 2020s and expand through 2035. The plan hinges on allied participation via NORAD and partners like Canada and Denmark ( Greenland ), but trade tensions have limited dialogue, complicating coordination on basing, sensor sharing, and cost. Congress has already approved a hefty initial down payment ($23 billion) with more funding pending, while lawmakers demand a comprehensive spend plan amid ongoing prototype development for space-based interceptors and a broad-to-remote defense architecture.
Canadian NORAD Commander Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna discusses the challenges of defending the Arctic from threats like China and Russia, highlighting the development of advanced radar systems, concerns over cruise missiles, and the evolving military activities in the region, emphasizing the need for enhanced domain awareness and new technologies.
NORAD celebrates 70 years of tracking Santa's sleigh, a tradition that began in 1955 as a playful way to promote air defense awareness during the Cold War, and has since become a beloved holiday event involving thousands of volunteers answering children's calls worldwide.
NORAD has been tracking Santa Claus's journey around the world for over 70 years, using radar, satellites, and jets, as part of a holiday tradition that started in 1955 when a misprinted phone number led children to call the military's command center, which then began tracking Santa as a fun holiday activity.
The US scrambled fighter jets to identify Russian aircraft, including bombers and fighter jets, that entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, in a routine response to ongoing Russian airspace violations near NATO countries, highlighting escalating Arctic and regional tensions.
U.S. fighter jets intercepted four Russian warplanes near Alaska in international airspace, as part of routine surveillance, amid ongoing Russian military activity in the region, which has raised concerns but has not entered U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace.
U.S. fighter jets have been scrambled multiple times this week to track Russian reconnaissance planes near Alaska within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, a routine activity that does not threaten U.S. or Canadian sovereignty, amid increasing Russian military activity in the Arctic region.
U.S. fighter jets intercepted a Russian spy plane near Alaska multiple times in recent days, with the aircraft remaining in international airspace and not entering U.S. or Canadian sovereign territory. This follows a pattern of Russian military activity in the Arctic and the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, prompting regular U.S. military responses. The activity is considered routine surveillance rather than a threat.
NORAD intercepted a Russian aircraft in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone for the third time in a week, with F-16 fighters dispatched to identify the aircraft, which remained in international airspace and was not considered a threat.
Fighter jets were scrambled and flares fired after seven civilian planes violated restricted airspace over President Trump's Bedminster property in New Jersey over the weekend, with one plane intercepted and safely escorted out of the area. NORAD emphasized the safety measures used and urged pilots to heed FAA notices, noting previous violations over similar areas.