Aerospace Defense Command

Aerospace Defense Command (ADC) was a major command of the United States Air Force responsible for the air defense of North America. Established in 1946 as Air Defense Command and later renamed in 1968, ADC coordinated radar networks, interceptor aircraft, and missile sites to detect and counter potential aerial threats, particularly during the Cold War. The command played a pivotal role in developing and operating the North American Air Defense (NORAD) system in partnership with Canada. ADC was inactivated in 1980 as its functions were absorbed by other USAF commands, reflecting changing defense priorities and technological advancements.