Norad has ‘full focus’ on China-Russia air cooperation – National
The head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command said that the air cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic Norad “full attention.”
The two countries conducted a joint patrol in the Arctic near the coast of Alaska for the first time in July last year.
US General Gregory Guillot told The Canadian Press in a year-long interview that it would potentially take decades for the two countries’ militaries to achieve “full integration” on the level of the US and Canada.
“Right now we see it as coordinated, meaning they can operate safely in the same area (but) nowhere near the level of integration of Canadian Forces and US Forces,” he said. “As they continue to do more there, that’s certainly in our focus and it’s something we’re watching very closely.”
He noted that Norad’s strategic rivals – Russia, China, North Korea and Iran – “really have an unprecedented level of operational coordination among them for the first time.”
Canada has been politically on the sidelines over the past year with U.S. officials for falling short of a NATO defense spending pledge. Although it’s a conflict that won’t come until Donald Trump takes office in 2025, Guillot said the event underscores the deep ties between the two militaries.
“2024 has been a great year for Canada in terms of US military-to-military relations,” he said, noting how the CF-18s and US F-16s and F-35s were linked to the July event.
Get the latest National news
Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you as they happen, for news affecting Canada and around the world.
“The Canadians happened to be operating out of Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska and were able to step into the Norad role and respond with us. You can only do this if you have years and years of fully integrated training.
He said there had been a slight uptick in Russian activity in the past year alone, with a notable incident in late September when Russian bombers were seen in Alaska, though not in American or Canadian sovereign airspace.
When the F-16 fighter moved to intercept one of the bombers, it maneuvered too close to the US aircraft.
“One of the fighters acted in a very dangerous and unprofessional manner, which was surprising to me because it’s not what you expect from a professional air force,” he said.
However, he said, the problem Norad faces with Russia is that the country is increasingly able to threaten America from afar, which is why Norad is focusing on developing its threat detection capabilities.
Gen. Guillot, who is from Arizona and served at the top of Norad this year, said the two countries should strengthen their presence in the Arctic by conducting more exercises and campaigns.
Because the forces rotating towards the cold north must get used to difficult and cold conditions for periods of crisis.
A few weeks ago, he traveled to Cold Lake, Alta. — he joked “fits the name” — flew the CF-18, an RCAF jet being modernized as a bridge to Canada’s transition to the F-35.
But he hasn’t been to the high north yet, and is likely planning a trip to Inuvik, NWT in February to get a closer look at operations there.
His arctic journeys so far have been limited to Alaska, where he has been surprised by the harsh conditions. The vast space there makes up more than half of Norad’s area of responsibility, and the great distance between the bases makes it a “difficult environment” for aircrew to respond to Russian aircraft.
According to him, US and Canadian forces are preparing to spend more time on operations in the most remote parts of the Arctic by 2025.
He also noted that the US is accepting Canadian pilots, who will fly the F-35s for training at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska. The plan is to show them that “operating and maintaining fifth-generation fighters, especially in the Arctic region, is very different than what we have with the F-15s and F-16s and the fourth-generation fighter that the Canadians have with the F-. 18 years old,” he said.
“We’re already starting that to help speed up the transition.”
© 2024 The Canadian Press
English