Homeland Defense

The North Amer. Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is to defend U.S. air space and the U.S. Air Force (AF) has 18 sites in the U.S. that conduct air sovereignty alert (ASA) operations. ASA operations support fighter aircraft in conducting homeland air defense operations. This report examined the extent to which: (1) NORAD has adopted a risk-based mgmt. approach to determine ASA operational requirements; (2) the AF has implemented ASA operations as a steady-state mission in accordance with DoD, NORAD, and AF directives and guidance; (3) the AF assesses the readiness of units conducting ASA operations; and (4) the AF faces challenges in sustaining ASA operations for the future and what plans, if any, it has to address such challenges. Charts.