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. |
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The Western Air Defense Sector’s Mission
Western Air Defense Sector personnel guard America’s western skies. We do this mission 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.
Learn more about our mission and history by visiting the Our Mission page.
WADS Radar Information
The Western Air Defense Sector receives radar data feeds from joint use 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. 11th 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.
The Western Air Defense Sector - Our Team
The Western Air Defense Sector is a bi-national and joint service unit. We have Americans and Canadians. We have men and women from different services — soldiers, sailors, airmen and Canadian Forces personnel.
Citizen Airmen Support the Western Air Defense Sector
About 20% of the Western Air Defense Sector team is Air National Guard "citizen Airmen" who are normally employed in civilian, full-time occupations. The President can and has in the past, called these Guard members to active duty to ensure the success of the WADS mission to include Operation Noble Eagle. 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.
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