List of intelligence gathering disciplines

See also: Intelligence assessment

This is a list of intelligence-gathering disciplines.

AIRINT

Main article: Air intelligence

AIRINT involves a range of distinct actions and techniques for gathering information that are exclusive to airborne operations.

The term “collection” in the field of intelligence often encompasses five disciplines, also known as sources: open source intelligence (OSINT), human intelligence (HUMINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), and measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) and SIGINT.

In the study named The Historical Roots of Air Intelligence (AIRINT): A Terminology Development Attempt, the historical roots of air intelligence are given, which can be defined as a combination of data collection techniques, especially by using aerial technology. The study uses the term AIRINT, which is not a recognised or widely used term in the intelligence literature. Therefore, the study is the first to mention AIRINT as the abbreviation for air intelligence, which is an intelligence-gathering system. However, not being a source of intelligence gathering, aerial technologies are widely used systems in the twenty-first century and from now on can be mentioned as AIRINT, similar to the other techniques (ELINT, IRINT, OPTINT, NUCINT, RADINT).

The necessity for a specific word such as AIRINT arises from the specialised character of intelligence collected from airborne systems, which has gained growing significance in contemporary military and geopolitical circumstances. AIRINT involves a range of distinct actions and techniques for gathering information that are exclusive to airborne operations. This sets it apart from other types of intelligence, such as ground-based HUMINT or SIGINT.

HUMINT

Main article: Human intelligence (intelligence gathering)

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

• Advisors or foreign internal defence (FID) personnel working with host nation (HN) forces or populations
• Diplomatic reporting by accredited diplomats (e.g. military attachés)
• Espionage, clandestine reporting, access agents, couriers, and cutouts
• Military attachés
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• Prisoners of war (POWs) or detainees
• Refugees
• Routine patrolling (military police, patrols, etc.)
• Traveller debriefing (e.g. CIA Domestic Contact Service)

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

FININT

Main article: Financial intelligence

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

GEOINT

Main article: Geospatial intelligence

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

• Imagery intelligence (IMINT)—gathered from satellite and aerial photography

MASINT

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 Centre for MASINT Studies and Research, MASINT is split into six major disciplines: electro-optical, nuclear, radar, geophysical, materials, and radiofrequency.

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 ionising 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)
   • Non-cooperative target recognition
   • Multistatic radar mask
   • 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 masin

OSINT

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

Main article: Signals intelligence

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

• Communications intelligence (COMINT)
• Electronic intelligence (ELINT) is gathered from electronic signals that do not contain speech or text (which are considered COMINT)
  • Foreign instrumentation signals intelligence (FISINT) entails the collection and analysis of telemetry data from a missile or sometimes from aircraft tests; formerly known as telemetry intelligence or TELINT

TECHINT

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.

• Medical intelligence (MEDINT) is gathered from analysis of medical records and/or actual physiological examinations to determine health and/or particular ailments and allergic conditions for consideration

See also

• All-source intelligence
• Cryptanalysis
• Meteorological intelligence
• Operations security
• Spy satellite
• TEMPEST
• Traffic analysis