Photo by Eric Uhlir

The North American Aerospace Defense Command will once again conduct exercises in the skies over the D.C. area tonight.

Falcon Virgo is expected to take place between midnight and 2 a.m., if the weather cooperates. The exercise “is designed to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification operations as well as operationally test the [National Capital Region Coordination Center] Visual Warning System and training personnel at the [Joint Air Defense Operations Center],” according to a release.

The exercises have been conducted across the country since the September 11 terrorist attacks.