The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a joint U.S.-Canada military organization based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. With help from our neighbor to the North, NORAD systems scan the skies for Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) flying over the poles with deadly gifts from our friends in the USSR (Ob Russky: CCCP).
The goal of NORAD is to warn us in time for us to take cover. We might get 15 minutes warning. “With enough shovels…”
To accomplish the aerospace warning mission, the commander of NORAD provides an integrated tactical warning and attack assessment to the governments of Canada and the United States. To accomplish the aerospace control mission, NORAD uses a network of satellites, ground-based radar, airborne radar and fighters to detect, intercept and, if necessary, engage any air-breathing threat to North America. As a part of its aerospace control mission, NORAD assists in the detection and monitoring of aircraft suspected of illegal drug trafficking. This information is passed to civilian law enforcement agencies to help combat the flow of illegal drugs into North America. The command is currently developing a concept for implementing the new maritime warning mission.
Uh, “air-breathing?” What does that mean? They can’t protect us from flying fish?
Anyway, as vigilent as the fine people in NORAD are in protecting us from Cold War nuclear incidents, any unidentified aircraft will be assumed to be hostile and shot down.
Artist’s rendering of NORAD engaging Santa during his Christmas night rounds with toys for all the good boys and girls. Click the thumbnail picture above to download a larger image for your desktop.
Santa’s annual trip is a logistical nightmare for the folks at NORAD. His sleigh has no transponder. The only light is Rudoph’s nose. NORAD has responded with a special-purpose, one-night-a-year Santa Tracker. Santa-Cam images will be available at the site linked above on Christmas Eve.
As long as NORAD knows where Santa is at any time, there will be no mistakes.
Thanks to Max for the excellent artist’s representation.
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