Documents
M7600 M8300 SIGINT Guide
Aug. 19 2017 — 5:59 p.m.

TO USA, AUS, and
Mission 7600 is a versatile SIGINT collection system designed to downlink unprocessed SIGINT data. Mis-
sion 7600 satellites are in geostationary orbits designed to allow near continuous coverage of the majority of the
Eurasian landmass. Signals processed at the Mission 7600 MGSs (RAF Menwith Hill Station, UK and the Joint De-
fense Facility Pine Gap, Alice Springs, Australia) are primarily military COMINT targets located on the Eurasian
landmass, although a variety of non-communications emitters can be processed as well. Some analysis of the col-
lected data is done at the MGS, but the great majority of the collected signals are forwarded to NSA for exploitation.
Dissemination of intelligence from the collection is primarily through NSA reporting channels.
K) The geostationary orbit of the Mission 7 600 satellites allows them to provide continuous coverage of the
maiority of the Eurasian landmass and Africa.
(Movement of the satellite within its orbit results
in partial daily coverage
The satellites' con?guration of ?xed and steerable feeds allows simultaneous collection against multiple
signal types (COMINT, ELINT, MASINT, etc.) located across a broad geographic area.
Geolocation computations can be performed at the MGS against signals which are simultaneously collected
by at least two satellites. Currently geolocation is possible against signals
Geolocation accuracy Varies?
Unprocessed SIGINT signal intercepts are downlinked to the MGS in real-time for processing, recording
and/or dissemination as required. High priority COMINT data is forwarded in real-time to NSA, with some data also
sent to the Kunia Regional SIGINT Operations Center (RSOC) for immediate processing by NSA and re-
porting as a TACREP. Lower priority data is forwarded to NSA for later processing.
4.5.1 (U) Primary System Mission
Mission 7600 was designed originally as a FISINT collector but now is primarily used as a COMINT col-
lection system against known targets of high intelligence value. Currently, about 85% of Mission 7600 collection is
against these COMINT targets.
4.5.2 (U) Secondary System Missions
Mission 7 600 also has the capability to collect against the following target types:
a. ISINT
b. MASINT
c. Technical ELINT
d.
e. Other COMINT
f. Satellite links (uplinks, cross-links, and downlinks)
4.6 Mission 8300 Program Overview
The Mission 8300 system, the earth orbit (GEO) component of IOSA, is a four satellite con-
stellation, and replaces both Mission 7500 and Mission 7600 current systems. Mission 8300 satellites has command
and control located at two overseas mission ground sites. The ?rst Mission 8300 spacecraft was launched 9 Sep 03.
4.6.1 (U) System Missions
4.6.1.1 The Mission 8300 system is designed to collect, process, record, and report Sig-
nals Intelligence (SIGINT) information.
4.6.1.2 SIGINT support to US military combat operations
4.6.1.3 Crisis monitoring
4.6.1.4 Indications and warning support to the United States and deployed US forces
TO USA, AUS, and GBRII25X1

TO USA, AUS, and GBRII25X1
4.6.1.5 OPELINT operations to collect, identify and geolocate threat emitters (cross-site/cross
system operations in conjunction with Mission 8200)
4.6.1.6 COMINT associated with command and control of military forces, movements of VIPs,
deployment of military units, states of readiness, training pro?ciency, and combat operations
4.6.1.7 PROF ORMA associated with military data systems (air defense, artillery, etc.)
4.6.1.8 Collection of line-of-sight low/high capacity COMINT signals
4.6.1.9 Collection of communications and electronic signals [Foreign Instrumentation Signals In-
telligence associated with weapons test ranges, science and technology centers, and
production and logistics facilities
4.6.1.10 Monitoring testing activity to detect changes in weapons employment doctrine and to ver-
ify compliance with strategic arms limitations agreements
4.6.1.11 Collection of satellite/space systems signals
4.6.1.12 Monitor nuclear weapons and high-energy weapons testing [MASINT-Electromagnetic
Pulse
4.6.2 (U) Orbital Characteristics
4.6.2.1 The Mission 8300 system has four satellites in earth orbits.
Residual satellites may be available to augment the baseline three-spacecraft constellation. It is
important to note that the satellites do not have simultaneous access to the entire area where
the potential for coverage exists. Actual targeted areas will be determined by speci?c tasking
instructions.
4.6.2.2 Within areas of potential coverage, the effective coverage footprint is determined
by the following factors:
1. Primary Factors
a. Emitter frequency: Generally, the targeting of higher frequencies results in smaller
collection footprints than for lower frequencies.
b. Look angle: The coverage footprint will increase as the satellite look angle increases,
the farther towards the horizon that the satellite looks. Other factors being equal, the
footprint will be smallest when the look angle is 0" (directly below the spacecraft).
2. Other Factors
Emitter transmission power
Emitter antenna type
Emitter antenna orientation
Modulation type
Pd.?
4.6.2.3 Mission 8300 Orbit Bene?ts:
1. Stable, continuous dwell for 24-hour collection
2. Coverage of primary target areas: Former Soviet Union, China, South Asia, East Asia,
Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the Atlantic landmasses.
4.6.3 (U) Operational Characteristics and Capabilities
4.6.3.1 System Characteristics:
1. Four spacecraft in earth orbit
Simultaneous multi-mission SIGINT operations (ELINT, COMINT, FISINT and
PROFORMA)
3. Common command and control; spacecraft can move between Mission Ground Stations
in response to crisis/contingency requirements
4.6.4 Mission 8300 bene?ts:
1. Increased wideband channels and downlink capacity for wideband collection, especially
TECHELINT from modern modulation emitters
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SECRETIICOMINTITALENT TO USA, AUS, and
2. Dedicated second antenna for ELINT, test range surveillance and signal search
3. High-accuracy OPELINT geolocation capability through cooperative cross-site/cross-
system operations with Mission 8200
4. Common high-sensitivity spacecraft design, With capability to relocate spacecraft (orbit
nodal repositioning)
Collection from different orbit locations through two different MGSs
6. Flexible crisis/contingency support
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