Introduction

Canada’s active commitment to our security and sovereignty in the North was demonstrated with a coordinated two-week operation conducted by the Royal Canadian Air Force in partnership with NAV CANADA, the Canadian Air Defence Sector of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the Alaskan NORAD Region.

This operation was carried out to ensure NORAD and its geographical component, the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) maintains optimal readiness levels at Forward Operating Locations across the North.

Quick Facts

Due to Canada’s size, fighter wings must rely on Forward Operating Locations strategically located across the country, particularly in the North. These auxiliary locations extend the reach of our aircraft by providing essential areas for basing, refuelling and maintenance.

• To ensure our Forward Operating Locations are capable and ready, the Canadian Armed Forces routinely conducts operations, exercises, maintenance, logistical support and security detail at these establishments.
• Planning for this operation was initiated in fall of 2013. These operations are carefully conducted to ensure NORAD’s rapid response capability. NORAD routinely conducts exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. and Canada.
• Airfields in and around Inuvik and Yellowknife, N.W.T., Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Goose Bay, N.L. were the primary hubs for aircraft activity including multiple flights from CF-18 Hornet aircraft, CC-130T Hercules and CC-150T Polaris air-to-air refuelling aircraft, and other support aircraft.
• The NORAD mission is to deter, detect, and defend against potential threats. The surveillance and control of North American airspace remains a primary mission focus for the men and women of NORAD to ensure air sovereignty over all geographic regions, including Canada’s Arctic.

Quotes

“Our Government is committed to exercising our Northern sovereignty. Operation Spring Forward allowed our CAF members to demonstrate their leadership and expertise while refining their skills by conducting live training missions in the most isolated and challenging areas of Canada.” 
The Honourable Rob Nicholson, PC, QC, MP for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence

 

“We are grateful for the support received from multiple Northern communities in which we operated over the past two weeks. Their efforts, along with the support received from our partner organization are essential to helping ensure peace and sovereignty in Canada’s North.”
General Chuck Jacoby, Commander, NORAD and US Northern Command

 

“Our forces within the Canadian NORAD Region maintain the highest readiness levels of any Commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. At any given moment, some 430 servicemen and women from the Canadian Armed Forces and US Air Force monitor the aerospace approaches to Canadian territory, identify all tracks within Canadian airspace, and stand ready to intercept and address potential threats to Canada’s security.“
Major-General Pierre St-Amand, Commander, 1 Canadian Air Division and the Canadian NORAD Region

src:news.gc.ca