Under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft is prepared to participate in Operation NOBLE DEFENDER at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 26, 2023. From January 21-31, 2023, NORAD conducted a dynamic force employment operation, Operation NOBLE DEFENDER, across the North American Arctic and the east coast of the United States. The operation demonstrated NORAD's air capabilities, readiness and will to defend Canada and the United States in the challenging Arctic environment. NORAD is a binational Canadian and United States command that employed a network of aerial, ground-based and space-based capabilities, as well as military aircraft. These assets are controlled by sophisticated command and control networks to deter, detect and defend against aerial threats that originate outside or within North American airspace.