NORAD TO FLY PLANNED AIR DEFENSE EXERCISE AHEAD OF SUPER BOWL LX

Photo By Staff Sgt. Lawrence Sena | A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle from the Louisiana Air National Guard's 159th Fighter Wing flies in formation with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing en route to support Operation Noble Defender (OND) over the Caribbean Sea, June 27, 2022. As a part of OND, which is a recurring operation, the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) coordinated and conducted joint operations with the U.S. Navy while concurrently launching jets from different locations across the United States' gulf coast and Puerto Rico. OND, is an integrated air and missile defense operation designed to ensure the defense and security of the northern and southern approaches to North America. This particular OND allowed NORAD units to exercise maneuvers designed to defend the southern approach to the United States from simulated cruise missile threats. NORAD is a bi-national Canadian and American command that employs a network of aerial, ground-based, and space-based sensors, air-to-air refueling tankers, and fighter aircraft controlled by a sophisticated command and control network to deter, detect and defend against aerial threats that originate outside or within North American airspace. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Lawrence Sena)  

UNITED STATES

01.28.2026

Story by 2nd Lt. Tyler Turnmire 

CONR-1AF (AFNORTH and AFSPACE)   

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) will conduct Exercise FELIX HAWK, a live-fly air defense exercise, on Jan. 29, 2026, from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. PST in the greater Santa Clara area. Some aircraft, scheduled to fly at approximately 6,000 feet, may be visible from the ground.

The exercise prepares NORAD to enforce the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) temporary flight restricted (TFR) area for Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, and to respond to potential airspace violations. NORAD’s support to Super Bowl LX security operations complements the security measures conducted by interagency partners, including the FAA, FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, and local law enforcement.

Under CONR direction, participating aircraft in this week’s exercise include F-15 fighter jets, U.S. Air Force C-17 transports, and Civil Air Patrol aircraft. All operations are carefully planned and controlled.

FELIX HAWK is part of Operation NOBLE EAGLE, NORAD’s ongoing mission to protect North America’s skies. Since its inception, NORAD has maintained constant vigilance over potential air threats, ensuring aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America.

• Date Taken: 01.28.2026
• Date Posted: 01.28.2026 15:19
• Story ID: 556989
• Location: US