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Forms of Intelligence: From HUMINT to TECHINT

There are essentially two different forms of intelligence which may be gathered, one is tied to technological capabilities (TECHINT) and the other revolves around collection from and by humans (HUMINT). Generally one national security intelligence gathering entity does not focus on both TECHINT and HUMINT. For example, the CIA and MI6 focus on HUMINT, while the NSA and GCHQ focus on TECHINT.

TECHINT is itself then divided into three different categories: (a) photographic or imagery intelligence (PHOTINT, IMINT), (b) signals intelligence (SIGINT), and (c) measurements and signatures intelligence (MASINT).

SIGINT, in turn, is subdivided into several different forms of intelligence: (a) communications intelligence (COMMINT), (b) Telemetry Intelligence (TELINT), and (c) electronic intelligence (ELINT).

Though America has recently turned its attention to the expansion of HUMINT training and development in light of new threats, it should be recognized that any high-quality intelligence assessment produced for policymakers require a crucial balance between HUMINT and TECHINT sources to verify validity of information and to provide other crucial details frequently necessary for national security decision-making.



Glossary of terms:
Communications Intelligence (COMINT)
Since the use of radio system interceptions during the First World War, Communications Intelligence (COMINT) has been a very active form of intelligence involving the interception of telecommunications. Frequently the abundance of COMINT causes a substantial backlog in intelligence waiting to be translated.

Electronic Intelligence (ELINT)
As a common form of SIGINT, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) is focused on the interception, processing, and analysis of those electromagnetic signals which are unrelated to communications, coming from military equipment, like radar signals.

Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
Among the most highly sought forms of intelligence is frequently the use of human intelligence (HUMINT), which allows an intelligence agency to have a live and active source embedded in otherwise impenetrable locations. HUMINT officers are divided into a number of different categories. To learn more about the different types of HUMINT officers, see the classification of intelligence operatives.

Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) / Photographic Intelligence (PHOTINT)
Obtained by way of two primary methods: (a) satellite photography and (b) aircraft photography, Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), also known as Photographic Intelligence (PHOTINT), provides policymakers with actual pictures to identify ongoing or potential targets or threats, and to monitor the activities of foreign national security operations to keep tabs on emerging technologies, enhance potential relations, and provide verification for nonproliferation. Perhaps the only distinguishing factor between IMINT and PHOTINT is that PHOTINT involves the use of film, whereas IMINT may also include non-film imagery, such as thermoimagery.

Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT)
Widely considered to be among the most technologically advanced forms of intelligence, Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) provides intelligence agencies with information regarding the physical properties of objects. This allows, for example, an intelligence agency to recognize when a missile has been fired, can detect nuclear detonation, and may scan the air for the presence of chemical, radiological, or biological signatures unique to various NBC weapons.

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)
The general concept of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) involves the interception of electromagnetic waves, otherwise known as signals. It is a very unspecific concept which, as is noted above, incorporates many different types, namely: (a) COMINT, (b) TELINT, (c) ELINT, and (d) any other form of intelligence which involves an electromagnetic wave that may be intercepted.

Technological Intelligence (TECHINT)
As distinguished from HUMINT, Technological Intelligence (TECHINT) includes any form of intelligence which incorporates electronic elements for interception.

Telemetry Intelligence (TELINT)
Similar to COMINT, Telemetry Intelligence (TELINT) also attempts to intercept communications, but the form of communications with which it is most concerned is that dealing with distances. For example, a missile launched from point A communicates with that site in terms of communicating metrics of velocity, location, and estimated time of impact until impact at point B. Interception of this coded information allows an intelligence agency to better determine the distance, speed, and estimated time of impact of any incoming missile, among other similar applications.