ARADCOM

• Meaning of ARADCOM: ARADCOM stands for Army Air Defense Command, a major command of the United States Army responsible for continental air defense during the Cold War. • Establishment: ARADCOM was officially established on March 21, 1957, succeeding the earlier Army Antiaircraft Command (ARAACOM). • Scope of Defense: At its peak, ARADCOM managed the defense of 24 key American cities and industrial areas against Soviet bomber threats. • Missile Systems: ARADCOM deployed several generations of surface-to-air missiles, including the Nike Ajax, Nike Hercules, and later the Nike Zeus and Nike-X for ballistic missile defense research. • Network of Sites: The command operated over 300 missile sites at various times, with heavily fortified launch areas and radars ringing major cities. • Integration with NORAD: ARADCOM was a key component of North American air defense, closely coordinating with NORAD and USAF radar networks. • Women in ARADCOM: In the 1970s, ARADCOM became one of the first Army commands to integrate women into operations at missile sites. • Role in Cuban Missile Crisis: During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, ARADCOM units were placed on the highest alert, ready to engage any aerial threats approaching U.S. airspace. • Cold War Legacy: ARADCOM’s extensive infrastructure left a physical legacy; many former missile sites have been repurposed, abandoned, or converted into parks, museums, and even private homes. • Deactivation: As the threat of Soviet bombers waned and ICBMs became the primary threat, ARADCOM was downsized and officially inactivated in 1974.