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NORAD Plans Exercise In Washington Region

WASHINGTON (AP) -- NORAD is planning an exercise this week in the Washington region to enhance its skills and test a warning system.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct exercise Falcon Virgo 12-02 Wednesday morning. Officials say the exercise will conclude Sunday morning.

Officials say in a news release that the exercise will consist of training flights that are scheduled to take place two different time periods each day -- 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 5:30 a.m.

The exercise is designed to hone NORAD's intercept and identification operations and test the region's visual warning system.

A civilian Beechcraft King Air aircraft will also fly about 2,000 feet above ground level between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. Wednesday to help calibrate systems and equipment.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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