AUGUST 13, 2026 — Integrating seamlessly into the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) framework, the 122nd Fighter Wing successfully completed the command’s aerospace warning and aerospace control missions in support of Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) from April to June 2026.
Operating continuously from its home base in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and other locations, the wing maintained a 24-hour operational tempo.
This rapid alert posture directly supported NORAD’s enduring bi-national mission to deter, detect, and defeat any potential aerospace threats to the United States and Canada.
ONE is the name given to all air sovereignty missions conducted in defense of North America.
“Protecting the nation right from our own backyard here in Indiana is a massive undertaking,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Kristen Wagner, commander of the 122nd Maintenance Group. “But honestly, our maintenance teams and flight crews didn’t just meet that challenge—they lived it, putting everything they had into the mission every single day.”
ONE serves as the United States’ primary defensive shield against internal and external airborne threats.
The mission demands that combat-ready aircraft remain prepared to intercept unidentified or hostile aircraft at a moment’s notice, a capability that requires constant readiness.
By executing this continuous watch, the 122nd FW demonstrated the agile combat employment and rapid response capabilities required to secure sovereign skies and fulfill NORAD’s air sovereignty mission.
Story by Tech. Sgt. David Sherman
122nd Fighter Wing