Strategic Air Command (U.S. Air Force)

The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was a U.S. Air Force division responsible for maintaining and operating long-range bombers and nuclear missiles during the Cold War. Its primary mission was to ensure nuclear deterrence, providing rapid and reliable delivery of nuclear weapons globally if needed. SAC managed a fleet of aircraft like the B-52 bomber and intercontinental ballistic missiles, and coordinated a strategic defense posture to prevent conflict through strength and readiness. It was a key element of U.S. military strategy from 1946 until its disbandment in 1992, playing a central role in nuclear deterrence and defense during that era.