WASHINGTON — The North American Aerospace Defense Command will run early morning training flights over the D.C. area Saturday through Monday.

Civil Air Patrol C-182 aircraft and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter will participate in the exercise — scheduled to run midnight to 5:30 a.m. each morning.

The exercise is designed “to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification operations” and will test the National Capital Region’s visual warning system and training personnel at the Joint Air Defense Operations Center.

The Continental United States NORAD Region is also conducting the exercise, in coordination with the FAA and other officials.

CONR has conducted similar exercises in the U.S. and Canada in the years since the 9/11 attacks.