Exercise AMALGAM DART concludes successfully under Canadian NORAD Region leadership

News Release

June 1, 2015

OTTAWA – The Canadian NORAD Region just successfully completed Exercise AMALGAM DART, which took place in Alaska, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut from 25 May to 1 June.

Exercise AMALGAM DART involved approximately 300 military personnel and 15 aircraft operating in concert from six different locations to confirm integration procedures of NORAD’s bi-national force and engage in realistic training scenarios in the North and High Arctic. This exercise sent NORAD crews further north than ever before to help maintain readiness in the face of the Putin regime’s aggressive posture in the Arctic and in Eastern Europe.

Quick Facts

During Exercise AMALGAM DART, CF-18 Hornets launching from NORAD’s Forward Operating Location (FOL) in Inuvik intercepted a B-52 Stratofortress from the US Strategic Command. They practiced hand-over procedures to their F-15 Eagle partners from 104th Fighter Wing in Barnes, Massachusetts, deploying from FOL Yellowknife. The CF-18s then landed in Alaska, refining NORAD cross-border operational procedures.
A NORAD force also flew further north than ever before to practice high arctic procedures. The force included a pair of CF-18 Hornets from 409 Squadron, which is from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, and a pair of F-22 Raptors. They achieved this during a scenario where they needed to detect and deter possible air threats flying towards North American airspace.
Deployed for the first time to Resolute Bay, Nunavut, the mobile radar unit operated by 42 Radar Squadron, from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta was fully mission capable, allowing NORAD to better detect possible air threats and control airborne NORAD assets in the most northern region of North American airspace. This achievement further expanded NORAD tactical command and control capabilities.
The majority of the supporting aircraft were flown from the neighbouring Alaska NORAD Region. KC-135 Stratotankers from 22nd Air Refueling Wing (ARW) in Kansas and 92nd ARW in Washington, and a CC-150T Polaris air-to-air refueller from 8 Wing in Trenton, Ontario, were staged at Eielson Air Force Base. F-22 fighters from 3rd Wing and E-3 AWACS aircraft from the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron operated at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Quotes

“I’m proud to see Canadians leading NORAD exercises in our North in the face of the Putin regime’s aggression. Exercise AMALGAM DART was another fine example of Canada and the United States seamlessly integrating their militaries in the defence of our continent. Honing these skills and operating in the most northern reaches of North America demonstrates Canada’s commitment to security in the North.”
Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence

“AMALGAM DART demonstrated that NORAD is both flexible and scalable, and that we can quickly move Canadian and U.S. fighters to forward locations to operate in the North and High Arctic. The defense of our homelands is at the core of what we do, just as it has been since NORAD was formed 57 years ago.”
Admiral William E. Gortney, Commander, NORAD and United States Northern Command

“We’re extremely happy with the results of Exercise AMALGAM DART. We challenged the Canadian and U.S. personnel under NORAD to push the boundaries of our operations and it was a great success. This exercise speaks volumes to the capabilities of great people dedicated to the defence of our nations.”
Major-General David Wheeler, Commander, 1 Canadian Air Division / Canadian NORAD Region

Associated Links

Imagery from Exercise AMALGAM DART at the Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Gallery
NORAD
The Royal Canadian Air Force

- 30 -

Contacts

Lauren Armstrong
Office of the Minister of National Defence
(613) 996-3100
lauren.armstrong2@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: (613) 996-2353
Toll-Free: 1 866 377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

Search for related information by keyword

Hon. Jason Kenney National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces Military

Page details

2016-12-14

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

Exercise AMALGAM DART concludes successfully under Canadian NORAD Region leadership

News Release

Page details