The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has not performed up to standard recently, but it is hoping it can secure the skies around the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 12.
NORAD aircraft will be enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary flight restricted zone during Sunday’s game. NORAD employs a layered defense network of radars, satellites, and fighter aircraft to identify aircraft and determine the appropriate response.
Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) has conducted this particular mission for every Super Bowl since 2002.
“This is a total team effort. The teams playing in the upcoming Super Bowl have practiced working together as a team to accomplish a single goal. Our interagency team does the same to accomplish our single goal: monitoring and defending the airspace for this year’s big game,” said Lt. Gen. Kirk Pierce, CONR commander.
“The 601st Air Operation Center (AOC) has spent months planning and coordinating with our interagency partners on the air security measure for Super Bowl LVII,” said Col. Clayton Schaefer, 601st AOC commander. “When the whistle blows and it’s time for kick-off, you can rest assured that the men and women of the Continental U.S. NORAD Region are busy securing the skies over Glendale, Arizona and the rest of the continental United States. On game day, you watch the game, we’ll watch the skies.”