Joint Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance PDF

Chapter 6 Joint Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance The Army conducts operations as part of a joint force. This chapter examines joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities as part of unified action. It discusses the joint intelligence, survei...

Chapter 6 Joint Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance The Army conducts operations as part of a joint force. This chapter examines joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities as part of unified action. It discusses the joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance concepts, doctrine, resources, and planning systems. It then discusses national intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance resources and guidelines. Lastly, this chapter discusses joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance considerations and organization. JOINT ISR AND UNIFIED ACTION 6-1. Unified action is the synchronization, coordination, and/or integration of the activities of governmental and nongovernmental entities with military operations to achieve unity of effort (JP 1). It involves the application of all instruments of national power, including actions of other government agencies and multinational military and nonmilitary organizations. Combatant and subordinate commanders use unified action to integrate and synchronize their operations directly with the activities and operations of other military forces and nonmilitary organizations in their area of operations. 6-2. Army forces in an operational area are exposed to many non-Army participants. Multinational formations, host-nation forces, other governmental agencies, contractors, and nongovernmental organizations are located in the operational area. Each participant has distinct characteristics, vocabulary, and culture, and all can contribute to situational understanding. Commanders, Soldiers, and all who seek to gather information gain by working with and leveraging the capabilities of these entities. The Army expands the joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) doctrine (see JP 2-01) by defining information collection as an activity that focuses on answering the commander’s critical information requirements (CCIRs). JOINT ISR CONCEPTS 6-3. Joint ISR is an intelligence function. The J-2 controls joint ISR’s collections systems, which are intelligence assets and resources. This is different from Army information collection. Joint ISR does not include reconnaissance and surveillance units. Joint usage of reconnaissance and surveillance refers to the missions conducted by airborne assets. Integration and interdependence are two key concepts that influence how the Army conducts joint ISR in the joint operations area. INTEGRATION 6-4. The Army uses integration to extend the principle of combined arms to operations conducted by two or more Service components. The combination of diverse joint force capabilities creates combat power more potent than the sum of its parts. This integration does not require joint command at all echelons; however, it does require joint interoperability at all echelons. 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 6-1 Chapter 6 INTERDEPENDENCE 6-5. The Army uses interdependence to govern joint operations and impact joint ISR activities. This interdependence is the purposeful reliance by one Service’s forces on another Service’s capabilities to maximize the complementary and reinforcing effects of both. Army forces operate as part of an interdependent joint force. Areas of interdependence that directly enhance Army information collection activities include:  Joint command and control. This includes integrated capabilities that— Gain information superiority through improved, fully synchronized and integrated ISR, knowledge management, and information management. Share a common operational picture (COP). Improve the ability of joint force and Service component commanders to conduct operations.  Joint intelligence. This includes integrated processes that— Reduce unnecessary redundancies in collection asset tasking through integrated ISR. Increase processing and analytic capability. Facilitate collaborative analysis. Provide global intelligence production and dissemination. Provide intelligence products that enhance situational understanding by describing and assessing an operational environment. JOINT ISR DOCTRINE 6-6. JP 2-01 governs joint ISR doctrine. The joint force headquarters in the theater of operations govern operational policies and procedures specific to that theater. Army personnel serving in joint commands must know joint doctrine for ISR. Army personnel involved in joint operations must understand the joint operation planning process. The joint operation planning process focuses on the interaction between an organization’s commander and staff and the commanders and staffs of the next higher and lower commands. The joint operation planning process continues throughout an operation. 6-7. Army and joint doctrine share many of the same terms and definitions; however, commanders and staffs must understand their use and differences. Examples include joint use of ISR and the Army’s use of information collection, joint operations area instead of area of operations (AO), and the joint operation planning process instead of the military decisionmaking process (MDMP). JOINT ISR RESOURCES 6-8. When organic collection assets or other Army resources are not sufficient, the intelligence officer and operations officer need to understand how to access joint resources. The exact procedures vary in each operational theater. The joint force collection manager reviews all requests for joint ISR resources based on validated needs established by the command’s formal intelligence requirements. 6-9. A request for information is one type of resource. Subordinate Army commanders submit their requests for information through echelon channels. If the intermediate echelons cannot answer the requests, they are passed to the joint task force’s (JTF) request for information section for research and response. Once a request for information is returned without an answer, subordinate commanders can submit a request for joint ISR support to the joint intelligence operations center. The joint intelligence operations center apportions its assets or other resources from higher echelons against the requests it receives, in order of priority, as defined by the JTF commander. Requests that cannot be satisfied by assets controlled or apportioned by the JTF are translated into the national intelligence system for collection. 6-10. Another resource is air support. At echelons below Army Service component command, requests for joint ISR air support go through an air support operations center or similar organization. Units requesting joint ISR support must accurately write air support requests and request the desired capability or effect, not the airframe. Air Force air liaison officers at that headquarters may help train Army personnel how to prepare air support requests; however, their primary duty is to advise the commander and staff. 6-2 FM 3-55 3 May 2013  Joint Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance 6-11. Some resources are outside the theater. The mission may require joint ISR resources not organic to the theater or to the components of the subordinate joint force. Joint ISR resources are typically in high demand and requirements usually exceed platform capabilities or inventory. The joint force collection manager must ensure that all requests for additional joint ISR resources are based on validated needs as established by the command’s formal intelligence requirements. JOINT ISR PLANNING SYSTEMS 6-12. Two joint ISR planning systems—the collection management mission application and the Planning Tool for Resource, Integration, Synchronization, and Management (PRISM)—help facilitate access to joint resources. PRISM, a subsystem of collection management mission application, is a Web-based management and synchronization tool used to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of theater operations. PRISM creates a collaborative environment for resource managers, collection managers, exploitation managers, and customers. In joint collection management operations, the collection manager coordinates with the operations directorate to forward collection requirements to the component commander exercising tactical control over the theater reconnaissance and surveillance assets. A mission tasking order goes to the unit responsible for the collection operations. At the selected unit, the mission manager makes the final choice of platforms, equipment, and personnel required for the collection operations based on operational considerations such as maintenance, schedules, training, and experience. The Air Force uses the collection management mission application. This application is a Web-centric information systems architecture that incorporates existing programs sponsored by several commands, Services, and agencies. It also provides tools for recording, gathering, organizing, and tracking intelligence collection requirements for all disciplines. JOINT AIR PLANNING PROCESS 6-13. Any joint ISR plan involving airborne assets or resources must consider the joint air planning process. The combatant commander has an air component with an air and space operations center. This air and space operations center controls the airspace in the area of responsibility and all air activity above the coordinating altitude determined by that commander. The air and space operations center must know everything flying above the coordinating altitude. The air and space operations center prioritizes joint ISR requirements for the assets that the Air Force component command controls and apportions. In a multinational headquarters, the air and space operations center is the combined air and space operations center. 6-14. Recent operations have demonstrated the value of having joint ISR liaison officers at Army organizational headquarters to help tactical commanders integrate theater ISR assets into their operations. These officers come from the air and space operations center, combined air and space operations center, or the Combined Forces Air Component Command. These liaison elements provide joint expertise and direct liaison with the combined air and space operations center. These liaison elements also provide insight to the combined air and space operations center and related organizations into the operations they support. JOINT ISR CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS 6-15. The counterpart to the joint ISR plan is the joint ISR concept of operations. The concept of operations is developed with operational planning. The joint ISR concept of operations is based on the collection strategy and ISR execution planning. It is developed jointly by the joint force J-2 and J-3. The joint ISR concept of operations addresses how all available ISR assets and associated tasking, processing, exploitation, and dissemination infrastructure, including multinational or coalition and commercial assets, are used to answer the joint force’s intelligence requirements. It identifies asset shortfalls relative to the joint force’s validated priority intelligence requirements (PIRs). It requires periodic evaluation of the capabilities and contributions of all available ISR assets to maximize efficient utilization and ensure the timely release of allocated ISR resources when no longer needed by the joint force. (See chapter 2 of JP 2-01 for more information on the concept of operations in detail.) 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 6-3 Chapter 6 NATIONAL ISR RESOURCES AND GUIDELINES 6-16. In the context of the National Intelligence Priority Framework, ISR operations justifies requests for additional national ISR resources. National collection resources are leveraged against national priorities. Intelligence officers must remember that these assets are scarce and have a multitude of high-priority requirements. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT TEAMS 6-17. National intelligence support teams (NISTs) are formed at the request of a deployed joint or combined task force commander. NISTs are comprised of intelligence and communications experts from Defense Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and other agencies as required to support the needs of the joint force commander. Defense Intelligence Agency is the executive agent for all NIST operations. Once on station, the NIST supplies a steady stream of agency intelligence on local conditions and potential threats. The needs of the mission dictate size and composition of NISTs. 6-18. Depending on the situation, NIST personnel are often sent to support corps- or division-level organizations. However, during recent operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, national agencies placed personnel at the brigade combat team (BCT) level in some cases. PLANNING AND REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS 6-19. Several national databases and Intelink Web sites contain information applicable to the intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB) process and national ISR planning. Commanders and their staff should review and evaluate those sites to determine the availability of current data, information, and intelligence products that answer intelligence or information requirements.  Modernized integrated database contains current, worldwide order-of-battle data organized by country, unit, facility, and equipment.  National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s National Exploitation System permits users to research the availability of imagery coverage over targets of interest and to access historical national imagery archives and imagery intelligence reports.  Country knowledge bases and crisis home pages are maintained by many combatant command and joint force commands as Intelink Web sites containing the best and most up-to-date intelligence products available from the intelligence community.  Signals intelligence online information system is a database that contains current and historical finished signals intelligence products.  Secure analyst file environment is a set of structured data files that provide access to the following databases: Intelligence Report Index Summary File contains index records and the full text of current and historical intelligence information reports. All-Source Document Index contains index records and abstracts for hardcopy all-source intelligence documents produced by Defense Intelligence Agency.  Human intelligence collection requirements is a registry of all validated human intelligence requirements and tasking.  Modernized Defense Intelligence Threat Data System is a collection of analytic tools that support the retrieval and analysis of information and intelligence related to counterintelligence, indications and warning, and counterterrorism.  Community online intelligence system for end users and managers is a database application that allows the user to identify and track the status of all validated crisis and noncrisis intelligence production requirements. 6-4 FM 3-55 3 May 2013  Joint Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance REQUIREMENTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 6-20. The requirements management system provides the national and Department of Defense imagery communities with a uniform automated collection management system. The requirements management system manages intelligence requirements for the national and Department of Defense user community to support the United States’ imagery and geospatial information system. The National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency manages this system and provides end-to-end management of national and strategic imagery collection, exploitation, and dissemination. This system enables creation, review, and approval of imagery requests. It tasks requirements for collection, production, and exploitation of imagery to appropriate locations. The requirements management system determines satisfaction of imagery requests, modifies imagery requests based on input from other sources of intelligence, and provides analytical tools for users to exploit. 6-21. The developed messages of the requirements management system are dispatched for approval and subsequent collection and exploitation tasking. The system is central to current and future integrated imagery and geospatial information management architectures supporting national, military, and civil customers. 6-22. Nominations management services provide the coordination necessary to accept user requirements for new information. These services aggregate, assign, and prioritize these user requirements. Nominations management services also track requirement satisfaction from the users. NATIONAL SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS PROCESS 6-23. The national signals intelligence requirements process (NSRP) is an integrated and responsive system of the policies, procedures, and technology used by the intelligence community to manage requests for national-level signals intelligence products and services. The NSRP replaced the previous system called the national signals intelligence requirement system. 6-24. The NSRP establishes an end-to-end cryptologic mission management tracking system using information needs. Collectors of signals intelligence satisfy tactical through national consumer information needs based on NSRP guidance. The NSRP improves the consumer’s ability to communicate with the collector by adding focus and creating a mechanism for accountability and feedback. 6-25. Information needs are used in NSRP to relay the collection requirements to signals intelligence collectors and systems. Users prioritize and classify information needs according to standardized time categories. Priorities for research information needs involve limited efforts and only exist for a set time using existing data (no new collection is required). Limited duration information needs require collection and production over a period of up to 90 days. Standing information needs require sustained collection over periods exceeding 90 days and up to 2 years. 6-26. Information needs are further prioritized based on how quickly the signals intelligence community must react to the request for collection by identifying—  Routine information needs that require action in 30 or more days.  Time sensitive information needs that require actions in 4 to 29 days after submission.  Time critical information needs that require actions in the first three days after submission. 6-27. Requests for national signals intelligence collection must be sponsored at the national level, validated by the intelligence community, and prioritized among all the other competing requirements. GUIDELINES FOR ACCESSING NATIONAL RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION 6-28. Depending upon local procedures and systems available, the Army intelligence officer may use various means to submit a request for information. The bulleted guidelines in this paragraph help access national-level resources to answer the request for information—  Know the PIRs and identify gaps that exist in the intelligence database and products.  Know what collection assets are available from supporting and supported forces.  Understand the timeline for preplanned and dynamic collection requests for particular assets. 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 6-5 Chapter 6  Identify collection assets and dissemination systems that may help answer the commander’s PIRs.  Ensure liaison and coordination elements are aware of PIRs and timelines for satisfaction.  Ensure PIRs are tied to operational decisions.  During planning, identify collection requirements and any trained analyst augmentation required to support post-strike battle damage assessment or other analysis requirements.  Plan for cueing to exploit collection platforms. JOINT ISR CONSIDERATIONS 6-29. Communication and cooperation with other agencies and organizations in the joint operations area enhances ISR collection efforts and creates sources of information with insights not otherwise available. Commanders must understand the respective roles and capabilities of the civilian organizations in the joint operations area to coordinate most effectively. Civilian organizations have different organizational cultures and norms. Some organizations may work with the Army while others may not. Some organizations are sensitive about being perceived as involved in intelligence operations with the military. Some considerations in obtaining the valuable information these organizations may have access to are—  Relationship building. This takes time, effort, and a willingness to schedule time to meet with individuals.  Patience. It is best not to expect results quickly and to avoid the appearance of tasking other agencies to provide information.  Reciprocity. U.S. forces often help or support to facilitate cooperation.  Mutual interests. Other organizations may have the same interests as U.S. forces (such as increased security).  Mutual trust. At a minimum, organizations trust U.S. forces will not abuse the relationship and that the information is provided in good faith. 6-30. Commanders cannot task civilian organizations to collect information. However, U.S. government intelligence or law enforcement agencies collect or have access to information as part of their operations. These organizations may benefit by mutually sharing information and can be an excellent resource. Provincial reconstruction teams, for example, work in cooperation with military efforts and can provide information important to the commander’s lines of effort such as infrastructure, governance, economic development, and healthcare. JOINT ISR ORGANIZATION 6-31. The JTF is the primary organization for joint operations. If other nations are included, it is a combined JTF. The JTF performs missions of short duration with specific, limited objectives. The JTF draws units from theater components and may receive augmentation of units, intelligence capabilities, and communications from outside the theater. 6-32. When Army forces operate under a JTF or combined JTF for unified action, several organizations in the joint intelligence architecture help lower echelons with their joint ISR and information collection plans. The J-2 headquarters of a typical JTF has a joint intelligence operations center. In this center, the collection management and the request for information sections are useful to Army intelligence officers as they plan joint ISR operations. In some cases, the collection management and dissemination sections are combined by the J-2. (See chapter 2 of JP 3-33 for information on organization of JTF staff). 6-33. Key joint organizations for joint ISR include—  Joint intelligence support element.  Air and space operations center or combined air and space operations center.  Intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations.  Multinational operations. 6-6 FM 3-55 3 May 2013  Joint Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance JOINT INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT ELEMENT 6-34. The joint intelligence support element may also augment the J-2 element of the JTF. The collection management operations branch section within the joint intelligence support element is the interface where subordinate Army commanders receive support from the JTF. The collection management operations branch oversees the JTF’s ISR activities. Dynamic retasking of joint resources must be coordinated with the joint intelligence support element collection management operations branch. AIR AND SPACE OPERATIONS CENTER OR COMBINED AIR AND SPACE OPERATIONS CENTER 6-35. Joint air planning products produced by the air and space operations center include the air tasking order, airspace control order, and special instructions. The air tasking order, airspace control order, and special instructions provide operational and tactical direction at the appropriate levels of detail. For aerial assets, these products are important for intelligence staffs as well as mission managers and operators (for example, unmanned aircraft system operators and aircraft pilots). 6-36. Army intelligence staffs coordinate with the air and space operations center through an Army unit called a battlefield coordination detachment. The battlefield coordination detachment is the Army Service component command’s liaison at the air and space operations center. This detachment communicates the land component commander’s issues to the air component commander. Aerial collection requests flow through the battlefield coordination detachment to the air and space operations center for consideration. (See ATTP 3-09.13 for more information on battlefield coordination detachment duties and responsibilities). 6-37. The air and space operations center sends a liaison element to the air component command element to communicate the air component commander’s issues to the land component commander. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 6-38. In addition to working with U.S. government agencies, unified action involves synchronizing joint or multinational military operations with activities of other governmental agencies, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and contractors. These organizations may have significant access, specialized knowledge, or insight and understanding of the local situation. These organizations vary widely in their purposes, interests, and ability or willingness to cooperate with the information-gathering activities of U.S. forces. It is important to develop a relationship to exchange information without revealing requirements. MULTINATIONAL OPERATIONS 6-39. Multinational operations is a collective term to describe military actions conducted by forces of two or more nations, usually undertaken within the structure of a coalition or alliance (JP 3-16). Intensive coordination, training, and extensive liaison are important to effective multinational ISR operations. 6-40. In multinational operations, the JTF must share intelligence to accomplish the mission with foreign military forces and coordinate the exchange of intelligence liaisons with those forces. Command and control of ISR resources may remain essentially national or be integrated into a combined command and control structure. There is no single intelligence doctrine for multinational operations. Each coalition or alliance develops its own procedures. (See JP 2-01 for more information on the intelligence considerations for multinational operations.) 6-41. Multinational force commanders establish a system that optimizes each nation’s contributions. Managing assets from multinational partners requires close coordination and maintenance support. U.S. forces also provide technical assistance to share information and intelligence. 6-42. Early, concurrent planning is critical to the success of joint and multinational operations. Multinational ISR planning activities include, but are not limited to— 3 May 2013 FM 3-55 6-7 Chapter 6  Developing requirements—information regarding the threat and the environment that needs to be collected and processed to meet the intelligence requirements of the commander.  Developing indicators—activity or lack of activity that confirms or denies the action or event specified in an intelligence requirement. Intelligence analysts develop indicators.  Developing the ISR plan—coordination between the collection manager and operations directorate. 6-43. U.S. personnel assigned to a multinational organization should know, and remain sensitive to, cultural and religious differences among its members. In some instances, these differences may result in periods of increased vulnerability for the joint force or require scheduling changes for meetings or briefings. 6-44. In most multinational operations, U.S. forces share intelligence with foreign military forces and receive intelligence from those forces. Intelligence policy and criteria are tailored to each multinational operation. In some multinational operations or campaigns, existing international standardization agreements may provide a basis for establishing rules and policies for conducting joint intelligence operations. Since each multinational operation is distinct, such agreements may have to be modified or amended based on the situation. Policy and procedures are tailored based on theater guidance and national policy as contained in DODD 5230.11. Staffs never disclose classified information automatically. Any disclosure must be consistent with U.S. national policy and U.S. military objectives, be done with security assurances in place, present a clearly defined U.S. advantage, and be limited to only necessary information. 6-8 FM 3-55 3 May 2013