About this Unit
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a bi-national military organization established in 1958 by the United States and Canada to provide aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for North America. Originally created during the Cold War to detect and respond to potential Soviet bomber and missile attacks, NORAD’s headquarters is located at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. Over the decades, the command has evolved to address new threats, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles and, more recently, aerospace threats including drones and potential space-based dangers. NORAD is well-known for its annual "NORAD Tracks Santa" program, but its core mission remains the vigilant defense of North American airspace through close U.S.-Canadian cooperation.
Historical Facts
•
Origins During the Cold War: NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) was established on May 12, 1958, as a joint U.S.-Canadian command to provide aerospace warning and defense against Soviet bomber and missile threats during the Cold War.
•
Cheyenne Mountain Complex: NORAD’s iconic operations center is buried deep within Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado. The facility is designed to withstand a 30-megaton nuclear explosion as close as 1.2 miles away.
•
Binational Command: NORAD is unique in that it is a combined organization of both the United States and Canada, with personnel and leadership drawn from both nations.
•
SANTA Tracking Tradition: Since 1955, NORAD has famously tracked Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, a tradition that began after a misprinted phone number in a department store ad led children to call NORAD’s predecessor.
•
Missile Warning System: NORAD operates a worldwide system of satellites and radar installations that can detect missile launches from anywhere on the globe within minutes.
•
9/11 Response: On September 11, 2001, NORAD scrambled fighter jets in response to the terrorist attacks, marking one of its most significant domestic operations.
•
Alaskan Air Defense: NORAD's Alaska NORAD Region (ANR) monitors the vast and strategically important airspace in and around Alaska, frequently intercepting Russian aircraft near North American airspace.
•
Canada’s Role: The only non-American to serve as NORAD Commander was Canadian General Charles F. Bouchard, who served as Deputy Commander from 2009 to 2011.
•
Early Warning Radars: The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, a network of radar stations across the Arctic, was one of NORAD’s first and most significant projects to detect incoming attacks.
•
Expanding Mission: Originally focused on aerospace threats, NORAD’s mission has expanded to include maritime warning and cooperation with other U.S. and Canadian agencies in homeland defense.
