This might be a strange question, but I'm doing a project on the US military for my Government class. Can anyone tell me which US military branch typically handles the air defense systems?
The United States air defense systems are primarily managed by two branches of the military - the United States Air Force and the United States Army. Here's a rough breakdown:
1. The United States Air Defense Command (ADC) was an Air Force major command and the military organization responsible for the air defense of the continental United States (CONUS). It controlled and coordinated America's land-based air defense efforts. ADC's forces included Fighter Interceptor Squadrons, Airborne Early Warning Squadrons, and Radar Squadrons.
2. On the other hand, the United States Army also plays a critical role in air defense, particularly through the Army Air Defense Artillery (ADA) which is mainly tasked with surface-to-air defense against any form of aerial attack. Units such as the Patriot missile system and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) that you might have come across in your research, belong to this department.
As you dig deeper into this, remember that the roles and responsibilities may vary based on specific systems or different geographical areas of responsibility. Be sure to consider such complexities as you continue your project. Best of luck with your research!
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