List of intelligence gathering disciplines explained

See also: Intelligence assessment.

This is a list of intelligence gathering disciplines.

HUMINT

See main article: Human intelligence (intelligence gathering).

Human intelligence (HUMINT) are gathered from a person in the location in question. Sources can include the following:

MI6 is often thought to use human intelligence to operate in different countries or Britain itself to protect the country from global affairs. However, this is usually confused with their brother agency MI5, which focuses on the security of Britain.[1]

FININT

See main article: Financial intelligence.

Financial intelligence (FININT) are gathered from analysis of monetary transactions.

GEOINT

See main article: Geospatial intelligence.

Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) are gathered from satellite and aerial photography, or mapping/terrain data.

MASINT

See main article: Measurement and signature intelligence.

Measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) are gathered from an array of signatures (distinctive characteristics) of fixed or dynamic target sources. According to the Air Force Institute of Technology's Center for MASINT Studies and Research, MASINT is split into six major disciplines: electro-optical, nuclear, radar, geophysical, materials, and radiofrequency.[2]

  1. Electro-optical MASINT
    • Airborne electro-optical missile tracking MASINT
    • Tactical counter-artillery sensors
    • Infrared MASINT
    • Optical measurement of nuclear explosions
    • LASER MASINT
    • Spectroscopic MASINT
    • Hyperspectral MASINT
    • Space-based staring infrared sensors
  2. Nuclear MASINT
    • Radiation survey and dosimetry
    • Space-based nuclear energy detection
    • Effects of ionizing radiation on materials
  3. Geophysical MASINT
    • Weather and sea intelligence MASINT
    • Acoustic MASINT, also known as acoustical intelligence (ACOUSTINT or ACINT)
    • Seismic MASINT
    • Magnetic MASINT
    • Gravitimetric MASINT
  4. Radar MASINT
    • Line-of-sight radar MASINT
    • Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) MASINT
    • Non-cooperative target recognition
    • Multistatic radar MASINT
    • Passive covert radar
  5. Materials MASINT
    • Chemical materials MASINT
    • Biological materials MASINT
    • Nuclear test analysis
  6. Radiofrequency MASINT
    • Frequency domain MASINT
    • Electromagnetic pulse MASINT
    • Unintentional radiation MASINT

OSINT

See main article: Open-source intelligence.

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) are gathered from open sources. OSINT can be further segmented by the source type: Internet/General, Scientific/Technical, and various HUMINT specialties, e.g. trade shows, association meetings, and interviews.

SIGINT

See main article: Signals intelligence.

Signals intelligence (SIGINT) are gathered from interception of signals.

TECHINT

See main article: Technical intelligence.

Technical intelligence (TECHINT) are gathered from analysis of weapons and equipment used by the armed forces of foreign nations, or environmental conditions.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Quinlan, Kevin. The Secret War between the Wars: MI5 in the 1920s and 1930s. Boydell & Brewer Ltd..
  2. Web site: Center for MASINT Studies and Research . Center for MASINT Studies and Research . Air Force Institute of Technology . https://web.archive.org/web/20070707093007/http://www.afit.edu/cmsr/ . 2007-07-07 . 3 October 2007.