The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will host a live-fly air defense exercise in the National Capital Region today (March 25). The exercise, called FALCON VIRGO, will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, it will be moved to tomorrow (March 26) at the same time.
The National Capital Region is defined as the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties of Maryland; Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties of Virginia; and all cities existing in Maryland or Virginia within the geographic area bounded by the outer boundaries of the combined area of said counties.
The Continental U.S. NORAD Region is in charge of the exercise. The exercise will include a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65D Dolphin helicopter and a Civil Air Patrol C-182 aircraft. Some parts of the exercise might involve flying at approximately 2,500 feet.
NORAD AIR DEFENSE EXERCISE PLANNED FOR NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct Exercise FALCON VIRGO, a live-fly air defense exercise, on March 25, 2025, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. EDT in the National Capital Region.Some portions of the exercise may involve flights at approximately 2,500 feet. In the event of inclement weather, the exercise is scheduled to commence the next day at the same time.
NORAD routinely conducts exercises with various scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings, and responses to unknown aircraft. All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled.
Falcon Virgo is a routine exercise in support of Operation Noble Eagle, encompassing all air sovereignty and air defense missions in North America.
Since its inception, NORAD aircraft have identified and intercepted potential air threats to North America in the execution of its aerospace warning and aerospace control missions; and, under its maritime warning mission, maintains a watchful eye over Canadian and U.S. internal waterways and maritime approaches.
