Electronic Signals Intelligence Exploitation

As technology becomes more sophisticated, so does the way we have to gather and interpret information. Utilizing sophisticated equipment, Signals Intelligence Analysts extract, analyze and identify foreign activity and communication that come from electromagnetic emissions. These analysts relay their findings by producing combat, strategic and tactical intelligence reports and notify the appropriate commanders of unusual activity or critical situations so we can respond with the necessary speed, force and precision.

ELINT had its start in World War II, with the invention and use of radar by the Allies and the Axis. The U.S. Army Air Forces had a keen interest in ELINT since they used most German radars at the time to target Allied bombers over Germany, and the air forces wanted to know as much about these radars as possible - including how to evade, "jam," or "spoof' them. The Americans and the British started intercepting those radar signals, and ELINf was born.

What is electronic intelligence, or ELINT? It is primarily information derived from electronic signals that do not contain speech or text (which are COMINT). The "official" description, from the National Security Council Directive No. 17 in 1955, is "the term EUNT is defined as the collection (observation and recording), and the technical processing for later intelligence purposes, of information on foreign, non-communications, electromagnetic radiations emanating from other than atomic detonation sources."

ELINT has two major branches. One branch is technical ELINT (TechELINT), which describes the signal structure, emission characteristics, modes of operation, emitter functions, and weapons systems associations of such emitters as radars, beacons, jammers, and navigational signals. TechELINT intelligence products support DoD electronic warfare programs; weapons threat and vulnerability assessments; and the design, development, and updating of electronic protection systems. TechELINT is also critical to providing the necessary information to build OpELINT signal collections systems.

 The other major branch is operational ELINT (OpELINT), which concentrates on locating specific ELINT targets and providing the operational timeline of the emitters. These locational results of OpELINT analysis are commonly called electronic order of battle (EOB). OpELINT also provides threat assessments, often referred to as "tactical ELINT." OpELINT intelligence products are an integral part of the military operations planning and tactics used by military commanders on the battlefield. OpELINT often provides the commander in the field with an indication of troop movement. Many of these products are time sensitive - often measured in minutes and sometimes seconds. 

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