Air Force plans flight exercise in D.C. area

The U.S. military says it plans a series of overnight training flights in the Washington area to test the region’s aerospace defenses.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command said Monday that the flights are planned between midnight and 2 a.m. Tuesday.

NORAD says the exercise is designed to hone its intercept and identification operations.

The exercise is also intended to test the National Capital Region’s Visual Warning System.

NORAD says Civil Air Patrol aircraft and a Coast Guard helicopter will participate in the exercise.