I'm re-reading Clancy's Sum of All Fears and jihadists have just blown up the Super Bowl. the president is on the phone with the CINC for both NORAD and SAC. Am I correct that both groups have a primarily defensive mission? What is different between their responsibilities?

SAC no longer exists, but it was offensive, not defensive. The AF Global Strike Command, a mere shadow of the former Strategic Air Command, has 2 B-52 Wings, a B-2 Wing and 3 Minuteman Missile Wings.

Reading both Wikipedia entries on SAC and NORAD will tell you all you want to know and then some,

I spent about a third of my Air Force career somewhere in NORAD. Their mission was strictly the defense of the North American Continent. NORAD was a joint US/Canadian command; CINCNORAD was always a US 4-star General. Vice commander was always a Canadian 3-star.

SAC's mission was the projection of US nuclear power globally. CINCSAC was a USAF 4-star as well.

That's the nutshell version.



[This message has been edited by JR69 (edited 8/3/2014 10:16p).]

Thanks for the input