By Debbie Gregory.

Santa Claus is about to making his sleigh ride delivering toys for good boys and girls. In addition to his trusty reindeer led by Rudolph, Santa will have back up from NORAD, North American Aerospace Defense Command with United States military satellites and sensors watching over him and monitoring the flight as well as providing Santa jet fighter escorts including F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-22 Raptors and even Canadian CF-18s.

NORAD is well-known for its ability to track Santa,” said Air Force Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, NORAD’s commander. NORAD has been tracking and helping Santa for 60 years. Did you know that NORAD’s integrated ground & space systems are so powerful, they can even detect the red glow from Rudolph’s nose and the metal that makes up Santa’s sleigh.

This year, more than 1,250 volunteers in the NORAD Tracks Santa call center will serve two-hour shifts and provide updates on social media and by telephone in as many as eight languages, the service said.

While tons of help will boost Santa’s trip from below, it was not immediately clear if Santa will receive a prolonged fighter jet escort on Christmas Eve. Still, the “operational feel” was meant to give U.S. adversaries — most notably, Russia — a clear message: Don’t mess with Santa.

NORAD will be posting to social media, tweeting, answering the phones and responding to emails. The call center will be open for 24 hours, starting at 5 a.m. Eastern Time on December 24.

Santa’s preparations and journey will be followed in real time starting Christmas Eve on a special holiday website. It’s already up and running with a holiday countdown clock, games, movies, daily activities, and music. Children of all ages can dial the toll-free number, 1-877-446-6723, to get a moment-by-moment update.