New NORAD-NORTHCOM strategy eyes Russia, China

By Jason Sherman / March 15, 2021 at 5:16 PM

On the eve of Gen. Glen VanHerck's first 2021 posture hearing on Capitol Hill, North American Aerospace Defense Command -- the bi-national organization he oversees along with U.S. Norther Command -- has published an unclassified executive summary of a new strategy.

"This NORAD and USNORTHCOM Strategy is a combined strategy that aligns with objectives identified in the Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, National Defense Strategy, and Canada's Strong, Secure, Engaged policy," according to the document, signed by VanHerck and issued today.

VanHerck, who testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, highlights concerns about China and Russia's ability to threaten the U.S. homeland.

"[O]ur competitors have analyzed our ability to operate overseas and have invested in capabilities such as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, small unmanned aircraft systems, artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, and delivery platforms to offset our strengths while exploiting our perceived weaknesses," states the document. "These advancing capabilities embolden competitors and adversaries to challenge us at home, looking to threaten our people, our critical infrastructure and our power projection capabilities. As a result, the stakes are higher than they have been in decades and, for NORAD and USNORTHCOM, successful continental defense is the only option."

The strategy advances four "strategic principles" to achieve priorities: global integration; domain awareness, information dominance and decision superiority.

210776