The world’s only binational military command demonstrated its collaborative operational capabilities in August 2026 when the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), with support from the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), conducted Exercise Amalgam Dart, which simulated responses to attacks on the homeland. The exercise, which ran from August 24 to September 1, tested NORAD’s capabilities to defend against threats from the eastern and western approaches to North America.
Amalgam Dart emphasized aerospace warning, aerospace control, and integrated air and missile defense capabilities executed by NORAD while USNORTHCOM supported the operation with the movement of personnel and equipment, according to a NORAD news release. An important aspect of this year’s edition of the exercise was the involvement of Canadian defense assets assigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec. Those units, along with unidentified U.S. assets, participated in mixed warplane operations, command and control, air battle management, and cruise missile defense capability drills, the release stated.
Past Amalgam Dart exercises have included stages in Alaska, Labrador and Greenland. This year’s iteration included Arctic components, too. “The exercise also provided opportunities to strengthen coordination with other U.S. combatant commands and partners, supporting broader efforts to improve domain awareness, interoperability and the synchronization of activities in and around the Arctic,” the release stated.
In 2021, for example, Canadian and U.S. warplanes practiced war games in the Arctic during the exercise. “The Arctic remains a strategically important region for continental defense. The northern approaches to North America are a potential avenue of attack for a strike on Canadian and U.S. critical infrastructure. Arctic exercises like AMALGAM DART help enhance and sustain the expertise of NORAD personnel in support of a mission in demanding operating environments, while working alongside partners and allies in defense of Canada and the United States,” a U.S. Strategic Command news release said at the time.
In addition to fighter aircraft in the 2021exercise, Amalgam Dart included search and rescue aircraft, radar operators, air-to-air refueler support, tactical airlift, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, and air defense systems. Army and Air National Guard units also participated.
The completion of this year’s Amalgam Dart demonstrated the routine testing of capabilities and opportunities to tighten the interoperability that characterizes the joint mission of NORAD and USNORTHCOM to defend North America, the release stated.