How Do US Combat Air Patrols Maintain Airspace Security?

Summary Combat Air Patrols are crucial for protecting American airspace from enemy aircraft. RPA drones play a key role in every combat air patrol, providing ISR capabilities. NORAD, with US and Canadian involvement, continuously monitors and protects North American airspace.

The United States routinely operates combat patrols to maintain security. These patrols include establishing a defensive zone to prevent enemy aircraft from penetrating friendly airspace. While some aircraft, like the P-8 Poseidon, are used for maritime patrol , others, like the F-22 and F-35, are used for combat patrol and interception.

For example, NORAD recently tracked two Russian and two Chinese bomber aircraft on a joint patrol in the North American US Air Defense Identification Zone. US Combat Air Patrols: keeping North America safe When enemy or unidentified aircraft are spotted flying within the zone, the US dispatches aircraft to intercept them. Enemy aircraft are monitored and warned not to violate American airspace.

The Air Force states , " A combat air patrol is essentially having an aircraft in the air, providing joint combatant commanders with dominant ISR and real-time munitions capability ." Types of Combat Air Patrols: High Asset Value Combat Air Patrol: Deployed to protect critical assets like AWACS (also called Escort Combat Air Patrol) Barrier Combat Air Patrol: Aircraft that establish a perimeter Combat Air Patrol & Strike: Combat patrol aircraft and strike aircraft (like fighter je.