The Nike system was a last line of defense against bomber formations. The main idea near the end of the program was to set off a surface-to-air nuke in the middle of a formation and take it out. (Yes, that means near the population centers which the Nike sites were situated around. ICBMs nullified the usefulness of the Nikes and they were all decommissioned around 1974.)
Modern air defenses are the anti-ballistic missile stuff, interceptors located at the borders, etc.
Modern air defenses are the anti-ballistic missile stuff, interceptors located at the borders, etc.