DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
(U) ELINT and TechSIGINT Defined
FROM: A SIGINT Communications Staffer
Unknown
Run Date: 03/04/2004
FROM: A SIGINT Communications Staffer
Unknown
(U) It is possible that I am the only one who gets a little confused when the terms ELINT,
TechELINT and OPELINT are being thrown around in what often seems to be interchangeable
ways. But I don't think so. Now, to add to my confusion, I have been hearing another term:
TechSIGINT. Huh?
(U) This is the straw that broke the camel's back! I couldn't take it anymore so I asked someone
who should know, and this is what he told me:
(U) ELINT stands, as always, for Electronic Intelligence.
(U//FOUO) Many, many years ago, the portion of the Intel Community working ELINT (which
includes many military organizations) split the discipline of ELINT into the two main categories
(OPELINT & TechELINT: these terms have been in use for over 4 decades).
(U//FOUO) OPELINT stands for Operational ELINT and its product is often of high value to
tactical military users since it gives specific info about a threat emitter's location, how often it
operates, it's type, what function it's performing, various parameters and characteristics of it's
emission, and the like, but no detailed technical characteristics.
(U//FOUO) TechELINT stands for (you guessed it) Technical ELINT. The product from
TechELINT comes from careful, detailed analysis of the signals collected from ELINT emitters.
The analysis often leads to the understanding of what kind of emitter is radiating the signal,
what its function is, and all kinds of data on its characteristics. In fact, for newly intercepted
emitters, it is vital to do the TechELINT work so that there will eventually be OPELINT available
(since you can't produce the operational product until the emitter is fully known and
understood). Also, the tech work is required in order for the military services to build
sophisticated threat warning receivers and electronic warfare devices (jammers and more).
(U//FOUO) Now for the nouveau (at least to me) TechSIGINT term. Technical SIGINT includes
all ELINT, as well as FISINT and PROFORMA and even Communications Externals (external
characteristics of COMINT signals; not the internal structure or data/traffic content).
(U) So, how's that? Need any more info? You can find it on the Weapons & Space web page .
(U) Pretty good, I think. But, I'm not putting my name on this just in case it is only me!
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108