NORAD and Russian Federation Air Force to Participate in Joint Military Exercise VIGILANT EAGLE 13

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the Russian Federation Air Force (RFAF) will conduct their third cooperative live-fly air defense exercise from August 26-30, 2013 over the Bering Sea.

The exercise, named Vigilant Eagle, began as a jointly pursued initiative between the United States and Russia to improve cooperation and response to a hijacking scenario involving commercial aircraft and involves RFAF, Royal Canadian Air Force and U.S. military personnel and aircraft operating in Russia and the United States.

This year's exercise will consist of aircraft simulating two international flights: one originating in Alaska and traveling into Russian airspace, followed by one originating in Russia and traveling into U.S. airspace.

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