NORAD was created in the 1950s as a counter to a rival superpower. Now the air defense center is back in the news, prompting questions about what it does — and how it copes with modern threats.
For years, North American Aerospace Command — or NORAD — had its headquarters inside Cheyenne Mountain, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. In this archival photo, a bus enters a tunnel for a half-mile trip to a command center inside the Cheyenne complex. The headquarters is now in nearby Colorado Springs.It was created as a counter to a rival superpower.
For the public, the most frequent mentions of NORAD likely come in Cold War-era stories and its famed Santa Tracker, which makes the news every Christmas. But over its nearly 65-year history, NORAD has had to adjust to new threats, and its leader says it needs to modernize, citing aWith many people now asking questions about NORAD, here's a rundown of its history, how it works today and how it might change:It's a joint project by the U.S.
The organization also monitors for maritime threats, and it helps civil authorities track aircraft suspected to be used in drug trafficking.It can be confusing — both are led by the same officer, Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck. Their responsibilities can overlap, but the key difference is that the U.S. Northern Command is a U.S. military headquarters.
U.S. Northern Command was formed in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Its activation in October 2002 was"the first time a single military commander has been charged with protecting the U.S. homeland since the days of George Washington," according to anIt's responsible for protecting air, land and sea approaches to North America, from Mexico to the continental U.S., Alaska, and Canada.
U.S. Northern Command's mandate also includes disasters and emergencies, from giving defense support to civil authorities to sharing military resources with federal, state and local authorities.
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