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                           /  Inside NORAD     \     /\
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                   /    \    by:  Anonymous      /        \
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Note: The information below was compiled through research and personal
      interviews with Air Force personnel who were stationed at NORAD
      Headquarters.  The officers that we talked wished for their names to
      be withheld.

Aerospace Defense Structure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     The military defense of North America is a joint effort of the United
States and Canada.  All forces directly assigned to aerospace defense by the
two nations are organized as the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD).
The major elements of NORAD are the Canadian Forces Air Defence Command
(CFADC), the U.S. Air Force's Air Defense Command (USAD ADC), and the U.S.
Army's Air Defense Command (ARADCOM).  Headquarters of NORAD, USAF ADC, and
ARADCOM are in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  While the CFADC headquarters are in
St. Hubert, Quebec.
     The primary jobs of NORAD is to serve as an early warning system in the
event of nuclear attack.  NORAD is primarily concerned with the detection,
identification, and tracking of hostile bombers, ballistic missiles, and space
vehicles.

Defense Against Manned Bombers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Defense against manned bombers includes ground-based and airborne radars
to warn of the approach of hostile aircraft; supersonic fighter-interceptor
aircraft capable of operating in any type of weather, and surface-to-air
interceptor missiles.  Detection and tracking of bombers is accomplished by
ground-based radars located along the Arctic Circle from the Aleutians to
Greenland and, in greater concentrations, in southern Canada and the United
States.  Radar equipped aircraft on continuous patrol off the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts extend surveillance seaward.
     Any aircraft detected must of course be identified.  Flights penetrating
designated Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) must be identified by
correlating their flight plans submitted in advance with the precise position
of the aircraft or, when this fails, through visual identification by
interceptor aircraft.  The simplest method of identification is to interrogate
an electronic coding device, called Identification Friend of For (IFF), located
in the aircraft, which replies to the interrogation with a known password.  If
the airborne object is hostile, it will be destroyed by fighter-interceptor jet
aircraft using nuclear or conventional armament or by unmanned surface-to-air
missiles such as BOMARC or NIKE.
     Integration of the defense systems against the manned bomber is
accomplished by the electronic supersystem called Semi-Automatic Ground
Environment (SAGE).  In SAGE, computers receive and store data, solve problems,
and display solutions to the detection station display screens.  This allows
air defense commanders to follow the battle situation and direct appropriate
defense weapons.
     If interceptors or missiles are launched or committed against the target,
the computer, with operator assistance, transmits information to and guides
them to the hostile object.  Interceptors are equipped with an automatic pilot,
which can ge guided from the ground by means of data link.  In the event the
SAGE system should become inoperative, its functions would be taken over by
BUIC, the Back-up Interceptor Control system, with widely dispersed automated
control centers.

Defense Against Ballistic Missiles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Defense against ballistic missiles presents more difficult problems than
defense against manned bombers.  An extensive network known as the Ballistic
Missile Early Warning System (BMWES), runs through Alaska, Canada, Greenland,
and the British Isles, is used to detect and relay information about inbound
missiles.  A similar network is planned to cover the southern portion of the
continent.  In the event that an inbound missiles is detected, NORAD directs
the use of antiballistic-missile weaponry.

Defense Against Attack Through Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Although space vehicles are note currently employed for offensive military
usage at the present, the possibility is certainly there.  One of NORAD's
primary responsibilities is to monitor any space born vehicles.
     The number of man made objects in orbit above the Earth numbers in the
thousands.  Continuous surveillance of these objects in space is performed by
NORAD's Space Detection and Tracking System (SPADATS).  SPADATS consists of two
primary elements, the U.S. Navy's Space Surveillance (SPASUR) System--an
electronic fence of high-powered transmitters and receivers extending across
the southern United States--and the U.S. Air Force's SPACETRACK system.
SPACETRACK consists of a worldwide network of radars, space-probing cameras,
and communications.  An operational control center with a central
data-processing facility called the Space Defense Center, located at NORAD
headquarters, serves to integrate the entire network.


NORAD Headquarters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     In 1966, operations began in the new Combat Operations Center deep inside
a mountain in Colorado.  The center is located outside Colorado Springs at the
Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base.  The complex is set inside tunnels that have
been carved deep into the heart of the mountain itself.  The entire structure
is situated atop huge, 3-foot diameter springs to absorb nuclear shock waves.
The headquarters was designed to survive a 1 megaton nuclear blast, but since
this was designed to deter 1960's nuclear technology, it is questionable
whether or not it would withstand attack by today's "smart" bombs, which could
put a missile right in the front door.  
     Every day, over a thousand people go to work the day shift at NORAD,
commuting up from near by Peterson Air Force Base.  Upon arrival at the center,
they walk past the station's concertina wire topped twelve foot fences, which
are surprisingly non-electrified.  The exterior is constantly patrolled and
observed by the Air Force Elite Security Forces, each armed to the teeth with
9mm pistols and M-16's.  Scores of German Shepherd attack dogs are used as an
added bit of security.  Above the main tunnel entrance, is a sign that reads:
"Use of Deadly Force Authorized by all Personnel."
     The interior of the base, built to survive a nuclear attack, is completely
self-contained.  Backup power is available in case of a power failure, and
provides uninterupted power for lighting as well as computer systems.  The base
also contains food and water supplies for all personnel for over 30 days.  The
base itself is entirely shielded with lead and reinforced concrete, which
augments the natural protection provided by the mountain.  Huge blast doors
provide the only entrances and exits to the base.  
     Of course, the base is equipped with state-of-the-art communications
systems, with full time links to all nuclear weapons sites in both the U.S. and
Canada.  The base is also linked into all major news and civil defense agencies
to accept and release up-to-the-minute information on global military affairs. 
Surprisingly, however, the base is not equipped with today's most powerful
mainframes and supercomputers.  Many of the systems are somewhat archaic, as any
upgrade would cause massive redesign of weapons and defense systems.   

Conclusion
~~~~~~~~~~
     One may wonder about the usefulness of this unique command post in the
interior of a mountain in light of current global events.  With the evaporation
of central government in the Soviet Union, and the decreased likelihood of
another global war, a huge nuclear arsenal is beginning to seem worthless. 
However, with the capability to monitor global military situations at all times,
and the ability to deter possible conflict, it still provides a valuable service
to all of North America, if not the world.  Better safe than sorry.