- Date founded: May 121958 - Date the US joined:May 12,1958 - Members: Canada and the United States Founded on May 121958, the North American Acrospace Defense Command [3 (NORAD) is a combined alliance between the United States and Canada The alliance aims to strengthen acrospace sovereignty and defenses in the airspaces of Canada and the continental United States, including the state of Alaska. Known as North American Air Defense Command until March 1981, NORAD was initialized as a bi-national command at the beginning of the Cold War During this period, both American and Canadian defense leaders deemed it necessary to prevent detect, and defend the North American airspace against possible long-range Soviet bombers. Over half a century following its foundation, NORAD stays true to its mandate to lead the creation and improvement of missions related to aerospace warning and aerospace control Upon the renewal of the agreement in 2006.the alliance expanded its command to cover maritime warnings for key maritime areas and internal waterways of both countries. 5. Why do YOU think the United States wanted to create NORAD? (hint: think about what the US feared most during the Cold War) 6. How do YOU think the Soviet Union felt about this alliance?