Welcome to the Western Air Defense Sector
The Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) is one of two sectors responsible to NORAD’s aerospace warning and control mission. The Western Air Defense Sector is part of the Continental U.S. NORAD region. There are also Canadian and Alaskan NORAD regions.
We guard America’s skies every day, 24 hours a day. The men and women of the Western Air Defense Sector detect, identify, track and can scramble fighters to intercept unknown or threatening airborne objects.
Our team is a bi-national and joint service unit. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Canadian Forces personnel, DoD civilians, and government contractors all comprise the WADS team. About 20% of the Western Air Defense Sector team are traditional Air Guardsmen who serve one weekend per month and two weeks a year. They typically have civilian professions, but can and have been called to active duty by the President. full-time occupations. In accordance with a Presidential order, the Sector Commander can mobilize all of our traditional Guard members as he would during any crisis or contingency.
The Western Air Defense Sector’s Mission
- The Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) is headquartered at McChord Air Force Base, Washington and is the larger of two Sectors responsible to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the Continental NORAD Region for peacetime air sovereignty, strategic air defense, and airborne counter-drug operations in the continental United States. WADS is a Washington Air National Guard unit which reports directly to AFNORTH/1st Air Force at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
- Federal Mission: The Sector’s primary mission is ―Guarding America’s Skies. This 24/7 guardian role involves the use of radar and communications systems to monitor air traffic from the Mississippi River west to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Canadian border south to the Mexican border. The Sector reports to Air Combat Command (ACC) and NORAD in its federal role. NORAD is a bi-national United States and Canadian organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America. The Western Sector works closely with other federal agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Secret Service and U.S. Customs Service as well as its sister military services – the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard.
- State Mission: WADS reports to the Governor through the Washington National Guard offices at Camp Murray. The Sector works with state agencies to provide rapid response in the event natural or manmade disasters, and participate in disaster preparedness exercises. The Sector is able to provide an air picture to help in rescue operations in the event of disasters.
WADS Radar Information
The Western Air Defense Sector receives radar data feeds from joint use Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground-based radars, mobile radars, Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft and the U.S. Navy.
Our Role Since September 11th
We have enhanced our radar picture of the interior since Sept. 11, 2001 in part by positioning mobile radars in the interior and coastal areas of the U.S. as well as through technical enhancements linking us to interior FAA radars.
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