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16 Aug 2007
Two pairs of Russian BEAR H bombers (4 total aircraft) flew and exercise. One
pair flew north over the Polar cap, with no visual identification being conducted by
NORAD aircraft. The second pair was visually identified and escorted by ANR F-
15s until they left the Alaskan ADIZ along the Aleutian Island chain.
3 Sep 2007
Alaska NORAD Region F-15s visually identified two Russian BEAR H bombers in
the Alaskan ADIZ and escorted them north until they left the ADIZ.
6 Sep 2007
Exercise AMALGAM ARROW 07-12 tested ANR, CANR, and CONR on the
Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) Mission.
28 Sep 2007
A successful launch and intercept test of the BMDS occurred. During the test a
target missile was launched from Kodiak Island, Alaska, and tracked by radar at
Beale AFB, California. The interceptor missile was fired from Vandenberg AFB,
California, striking the target warhead about eight minutes later.
22 Nov 2007
The Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR) launched fighter, tankers, and C2 aircraft to
identify and monitor two Russian BEAR H bomber aircraft off the coast of Alaska.
This mission was the first time that the F-22 Raptor was used in a mission in
Alaska.
Feb 2008
NORAD was part of a network of land-, air-, sea-, and space-based sensors
monitoring the missile interception (and subsequent debris) of a non-functioning
U.S. satellite orbiting earth.
25 Mar 2008
Two Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR) F-15 aircraft intercepted two Russian BEAR
H TU-95 bombers over international waters heading toward Alaska. The Russians
continued their robust Long Range Aviation (LRA) exercise program without filing
plans for safety purposes.
12 May 2008
NORAD celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Secretary of Defense Robert Gates,
MND Peter McKay; Bill Ritter, Governor of Colorado; General Gene Renuart,
Commander NORAD and USNORTHCOM, and other distinguished participants,
celebrated NORAD's 50th birthday with a Gala Ball and other special activities and
events.
5 Apr 2009
North Korea launched a Taepodong-2 missile, supposedly for placing a satellite in
to Earth orbit. NORAD and USNORTHCOM closely monitored the launch, ready
to take defense action if the missile presented a threat to U.S. territory. The missile
experienced engine failure, as stage one of the missile fell into the Sea of Japan/East
Sea and the remaining stages plus the payload landed in the Pacific Ocean after a
trajectory of 2,300 miles. A White House statement characterized the event as a
"clear violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1718," which
prohibited North Korea from conducting ballistic missile activity.
6 Apr 2009
A student at a flight school in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, stole a Cessna 172
and flew across the border into the United States. NORAD tracked the aircraft and
ordered two F-16s to follow the target of interest. The F-16s intercepted the intruder
near the Michigan-Wisconsin state line. The aircraft appeared to pose no threat, and
after several hours the plane landed safely near Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The motive
for the flight, according to its pilot, was the desire to be shot down and killed by the
fighters.