Part of the US air defense strategy during the cold war was to send missiles to any fleet of enemy planes.

The Rocky Point base was one of these bases. It was charged with defending the air over Brookhaven National Laboratory and the naval weapons reserve at Calverton, which housed a major Grumman factory and testing site. Like all other NIKE bases it consisted of a launch area, a control area, and military housing. The launch area was protected by two fences, armed guards and K-9s. It had its own kennel which still stands. This particular base was equipped with Hercules missiles that were nuclear.

The base was abandoned in 1974 and on a previously unused part of the base an army reserve center was built and remains open today. The launch area is still intact and contains a sound proof control room. The control area was mostly demolished and turned into a field for model plane enthusiasts. The military housing was converted to low income housing.