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(S//SI) SID and the Missile Defense Agency
FROM:
SID/Customer Gateway
Run Date: 09/08/2003
(S//SI) If we had only one word to sum up NSA's relationship with the Missile Defense Agency
(MDA) today, it might be "synergy." Tasked by presidential directive in 1984 to develop a
Ballistic Missile Defense System that can intercept enemy missiles in all phases of their flight,
the MDA (formerly the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization) initially focused on system-related
research, development, testing and evaluating activities. In recent months, however, MDA's
mission has expanded significantly.
(S//SI) In addition to conducting RDT&E; activities, MDA analysts are now studying threat-based
issues - adversarial intentions and capabilities - with an eye to incorporating pertinent and useful
intelligence into the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), and ultimately increasing the
system's ability to defeat enemy missile attacks before they can be brought to bear against the
U.S., its allies, or friends. Towards this end, MDA has expanded its operations to include an
Intelligence Directorate that is eager to receive SIGINT that responds to MDA's new information
needs. In response, various components of the Signals Intelligence Directorate have joined
forces to improve and refine SIGINT delivery to this key customer.
(S//SI) With MDA's new focus on threat-based issues in mind, the NSA/CSS Representative for
Defense (NCR DEF) and Customer Account Management quickly went to work to identify existing
INs that would be of interest to MDA's analysts. Once these INs were identified, SIGINT Product
Services added MDA to the relevant distributions, allowing MDA's analysts to receive SIGINT
product directly from NSA for the first time. (Previously, product was routed through NCR DEF).
Another key player, Senior Executive Account Manager
, worked closely with A&P;'s
leadership to ensure that S2 production lines were sensitive to MDA's information needs and
best prepared to service those needs. Now that MDA is fully engaged in the National SIGINT
Requirements Process, the SIGINT National Intelligence Officers for Strategic Programs and
Arms Control and DEFSMAC personnel are meeting regularly with MDA to establish a framework
for further refining missile defense intelligence requirements.
(C) MDA has called the relationship they have with NSA the most progressive and responsive of
all the intelligence organizations and are using this relationship as the model for working on
requirements and interactions with the other intelligence agencies. Anything we can do to
identify opportunities that will further support MDA's mission, enhance collaboration, and
increase information sharing will only make this relationship stronger.
(U//FOUO) For more information, please contact Customer Gateway's Account Manager for MDA,
,
@nsa,
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid comms)."
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TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108