32nd Army Air Defense Command

The 32nd Army Air Defense Command (32nd AADCOM) was a United States Army formation activated in 1966 and headquartered in Germany. Its primary mission was to provide air defense for U.S. and NATO forces in Central Europe during the Cold War, employing missile systems such as the Nike Hercules and later the Patriot. The unit played a crucial role in deterring potential Warsaw Pact air attacks by integrating advanced radar, command, and control networks across the region. The 32nd AADCOM was inactivated in 1992 following the end of the Cold War and the subsequent reduction of U.S. forces in Europe.