PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., May 14 (UPI) -- A new command center opened Tuesday that fully integrates the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command.

The new facility, located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, is an initiative by defense officials from the United States and Canada to completely integrate the operations of NORAD and NORTHCOM to enhance their capabilities securing the North American region and to better respond to both natural and terrorist threats, NORAD reported.

NORTHCOM was established in 2002. Since then, NORAD and NORTHCOM have shared a facility. The new operation center is designed to offer greater situational awareness for land, air, space, missile warning, maritime and cyber domains.

"Our command center will be a huge improvement in our ability to integrate situational awareness, to begin to respond to a major event in either of our countries, and then to take the national capabilities that respond to disasters, both manmade and natural, and bring relief to our citizens in our communities," Gen. Victor Renuart, NORAD and NORTHCOM commander, said in a statement. "So this is really a weapons system for the future."