Noble Eagle Remains Vital Operation

March 20, 2008— There’s been no let up in the number of Operation Noble Eagle sorties generated by 1st Air Force/Air Forces Northern, and in fact the Air National Guard-led operation posted 59 more sortie in February than the previous month. Of the 190 fighter sorties, covering the Western and Eastern Air Defense Sectors, ANG and Air Force Reserve Command flew almost three-quarters. And the Air Reserve Components flew all but one of the 30 tanker sorties. Testifying earlier this month on the Fiscal 2009 budget request, NORAD/US Northern Command boss Air Force Gen. Victor Renuart said the ONE mission would remain “critical” for the foreseeable future to monitor the air threat, particularly with the aging-out of the systems monitoring our national airspace. He said it also would continue to have a “key role” in monitoring for low observables and cruise missiles.

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