What does the acronym NORAD stand for?

An acronym is an abbreviation which is generally (but not always) formed from the initial letters of other words. It is then pronounced as a word.

Founded in 1957 as North American Air Defense Command, in March of 1981 the continent's aerospace defense organization’s full name was amended slightly, with the word ‘Air’ being replaced by ‘Aerospace’. The organization is now officially known as the North American Aerospace Defense Command or, in short, ‘NORAD’.

NORAD is a joint operation between the United States and Canada. It is headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado; further facilities are housed in a complex built into nearby Cheyenne Mountain.

NORAD's mission is to watch the skies and protect the North American continent from incoming aerospace threats such as missiles and foreign aircraft. It's a cooperative project overseen by two high-ranking generals, one each from the United States and Canada.

Born in the Cold War, NORAD remains a vital part of the continent's defense system. Its three-pronged mission is to deter, detect, and defend against aerospace assaults.

At Christmas, NORAD assumes the additional responsibility of tracking Santa's sleigh, with the aid of a large volunteer network.