1
For more information about cruise missiles and proliferation see CRS Report RS21252, by
Andrew Feickert.
2
Adam Hebert, “Ongoing Operations Made NORAD Response to Sept. 11 ‘Seamless,’” Inside
the Air Force, Dec. 21, 2001.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Order Code RS21394
Updated June 6, 2006
Homeland Security: Defending U.S. Airspace
Christopher Bolkcom
Specialist in National Defense
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
The September 11
th
attacks drew attention to U.S. air defense, and the 9/11
Commission Report recommended that Congress regularly assess the ability of Northern
Command to defend the United States against military threats. Protecting U.S. airspace
may require improvements in detecting aircraft and cruise missiles, making quick
operational decisions, and intercepting them. A number of options exist in each of these
areas. A variety of issues must be weighed including expediency, cost, and minimizing
conflicts with civilian aviation. This report will be updated.
Background
In response to the Cold War threat of Soviet bombers and cruise missiles, the
Department of Defense (DOD) established the North American Air Defense Command
(NORAD) in1958.
1
NORAD deployed a network of radars, fighter aircraft, and surface-
to-air missiles (SAMs) around the United States. The emergence of intercontinental
ballistic missiles in the 1960s drew attention away from U.S. air defenses. The air and
cruise missile threat appeared to decline further with the Soviet Union’s demise, and
growing U.S. superiority over other hostile air forces. Because an air attack on the United
States appeared unlikely, DOD relaxed its posture. By September 11, 2001, only 14 Air
Force fighters at 7 bases were assigned to protect the continental United States (CONUS)
from air attacks.
2
This number has subsequently been increased to over 100.
Today, NORAD operates radars in the United States and Canada, oriented outward,
to detect air attacks from foreign countries. NORAD augments these radars by
communicating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which operates its own
radars, and by flying E-3 AWACS aircraft. NORAD commands F-15 Eagle, F-16
Falcon, and Canadian CF-18 fighter aircraft flying combat air patrols (CAP) and on strip
alert (prepared to take off on short notice). NORAD’s Command and Control (C
2
) centers