Americas

Americas

U.S. Warplanes to Hold Drills Prior to NATO Summit

18 May 2012 01:42 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will hold on Friday large-scale military air drills in the sky over Chicago to ensure security ahead of the 2012-NATO summit, NORAD said in a statement, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.

â€œProviding the air defense for special security events like this yearâ€™s NATO Summit is a part of our day-to-day mission,â€ said Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke, Continental U.S. NORAD Region commander.

The exercise, called Amalgam Virgo, will involve Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Air National Guard C-21 aircraft, Air Force KC-135 tanker, Air Force F-16s, and a Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

Temporary flight restriction will be introduced over Chicago during the NATO summit on May 20-21. U.S. Air Force fighter jets will be on alert during the summit to ensure the flight restriction.