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Exercise Tests D.C. Air Defense Capabilities
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

The U.S. military will deploy anti-aircraft missiles at the Pentagon and bases around Washington for an exercise to test an emergency defense of the nation's capital, Pentagon officials said September 9, 2002. The 'Avenger' systems -- heat-seeking Stinger missiles on military jeeps -- will be stationed at the bases for at least four days beginning on Sept. 10. An Avenger system is shown in an undated photo.
Image Credit: Dept. Of Defense via Reuters.

Clear Skies II is an expanded version of the exercise and will validate the procedures NORAD will use to defend the United States from an airborne attack. NORAD officials said that other, possibly larger exercises would be held in the future.

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Exercise Clear Skies II kicks off here today to test air defense systems in the region, DoD officials said.

Pentagon officials emphasized Clear Skies II is an exercise and not an operation. The troops involved will not man live weapons. North American Aerospace Defense Command officials have planned the exercise for many weeks. The exercise ends Sept. 14.

Clear Skies II tests how NORAD, in conjunction with U.S. federal agencies, can put up and command a multilayered air defense system. Both ground and air assets are being used.

Pentagon officials said aircraft participating in the exercise include F-16s, Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft and other support aircraft.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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