IMAGERY INTELLIGENCE IN THE INTELLIGENCE PROCESS

9-15. The IMINT discipline has several unique considerations throughout the continuing activities and steps of the intelligence process.

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9-16. The intelligence officer should research targets using online imagery databases early and request those nonperishable imagery products for contingency planning. National and combatant command imagery databases may hold recently imaged areas that could meet the commander’s immediate needs instead of requesting new imagery collection.

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9-17. Timeliness is critical not only to imagery collection but also to IMINT reporting and imagery analysis. It is difficult to separate IMINT reporting from imagery analysis in this discussion, as demonstrated below; the three phases of IMINT reporting all depend on timeliness requirements. Each phase represents a different degree of analysis and period available to accomplish imagery exploitation:

z First phase imagery analysis (time-dominant) is the rapid exploitation of newly acquired imagery to satisfy an immediate need based on the commander’s requirements. Time-dominant exploitation and reporting are accomplished in accordance with unit standing operating procedures (SOPs) but not later than 24 hours after receipt of imagery. This phase satisfies priority intelligence requirements (PIRs) and/or identifies changes or activity of immediate significance. First phase imagery analysis normally results in an initial phase imagery report. z Second phase imagery analysis is the detailed exploitation of recently acquired imagery and the

reporting of imagery-derived intelligence and information while meeting the production and timeliness requirements. Other intelligence discipline source material may support second phase imagery, as appropriate, and may result in a secondary supplemental imagery report.

z Third phase imagery analysis is the detailed analysis of all available imagery pertinent to a

specific information requirement and the subsequent production and reporting resulting from this analysis within a specified time. This phase provides an organized detailed analysis of an imagery target or topic, using imagery as the primary data source but incorporating data from other sources as appropriate.

Table 9-1. Sensor characteristics matrix

Sensors Advantages Disadvantages Panchromatic (visible)

Best tool for—

• Daytime. • Clear weather. • Detailed analysis.

Includes full motion video and electro-optical still frame imagery.

• Affords a familiar view of a scene.

• Offers system resolution unachievable in other optical systems or in thermal images and radars.

• Preferred for detailed analysis and mensuration.

• Offers stereoscopic viewing.

• Restricted by terrain and vegetation.

• Limited to daytime use only. • Degraded imagery in other

than clear weather.

Infrared Best tool for—

• Nighttime. • Clear weather. • Detection of human

activity. Includes Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR).

• Impossible to jam a passive sensor.

• Camouflage penetration. • Nighttime imaging capability.

• Ineffective during thermal crossover periods. • Not easily interpretable;

requires skilled analysis. • Cannot penetrate clouds.

Radar

Useful for detecting the presence of objects at night and in bad weather. Includes synthetic aperture radar still frame imagery, and moving target indicator (MTI) data.

• All weather; penetrates fog, haze, clouds, and smoke. • Day or night use.

• Active sensor; does not rely on visible light or thermal emissions.

• Best sensor for change detection; good standoff capability.

• Large area coverage. • Moving target detection.

• Not easily interpretable; does not produce a literal

representation of imaged area. • Requires skilled analysis. • Difficult to obtain positive

identification or classification of equipment.

Multispectral imagery Best tool for—

• Mapping purposes. • Terrain analysis.

• Large database available. • Band combinations can be

manipulated to enhance interpretability.

• Images can be merged with other digital data for higher resolution.

• Large files slow to ingest. • Not easily interpretable;

requires skilled analysis. • Computer manipulation

requires large memory and storage capabilities; requires large processing capabilities.

9-18. The two types of imagery exploitation are national and departmental:

z National exploitation is imagery exploitation that supports Presidential requirements, National

Security Council requirements, congressional requirements, or requirements of a common concern to the intelligence community.

z Departmental exploitation is imagery exploitation that supports assigned missions of a single agency, department, or command. Imagery analysts complete departmental exploitation to satisfy requirements depending on phase and exploitation and report the results as soon as possible. Timelines for completing exploitation vary depending on unit SOPs.

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9-19. Upon receipt, the requestor should immediately assess the imagery product for accuracy and relevance to the original request. The requestor then notifies and informs the imagery analyst of the extent to which the product answered the PIRs. Providing feedback, regarding the product, to the producer helps ensure that the producer will provide the required information in the correct format. The following are some of the questions the requestor should consider when providing feedback to the producer:

z Does the product have the proper classification markings? z Is the product format acceptable?

z Is additional product or future product information needed? z Is excess product information included?

z Does the IMINT product satisfy the requirement?

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9-20. IMINT products are disseminated in digital and hardcopy formats. Analysts at the producing organization are responsible for ensuring dissemination. Digital dissemination is the primary means of dissemination. It can be accomplished by posting products to organizational image product libraries and intelligence community Web sites, or even disseminating directly via e-mail (such as in JPEG format). Couriers or other mail systems will distribute the hardcopy products.

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9-21. Determining requirement is the first step in planning for IMINT. The staff must clearly articulate their intelligence requirements to include communicating what the mission is and how the requested product will aid in mission accomplishment. The intelligence officer should submit the imagery, collection, and production requirements in the Geospatial Intelligence Management System (GIMS) using established procedures such as those in unit SOPs or as established by the combatant command.

9-22. The intelligence officer must also determine the specific imagery requirements to avoid burdening the system with unnecessary requests. The desire for imagery products often exceeds the capabilities of the imaging system. Therefore, it is imperative that intelligence officers consider the type of analysis needed and request only what they require. The specifications of the request for IMINT products often affect the timeliness of the response. For example, determining if vehicles are tanks requires less time and resolution than determining the make, model, and tank capabilities.

9-23. IMINT products include—

z Imagery that detects and/or identifies and locates specific unit types, equipment, obstacles, and potential field fortifications from which intelligence analysts can assess enemy capabilities and develop possible courses of action.

z Imagery that updates maps and enhances the interpretation of information from maps. Detailed mission planning uses imagery including stereo images for three-dimensional viewing of the terrain.

z MTI and full-motion video displays or products that provide a near real-time picture of an object’s movement by indicating its speed, location, and direction of travel. MTI systems do not differentiate friendly from enemy forces.

z Imagery that supports protection of the force by helping commanders visualize how their forces look, including their disposition, composition, and vulnerabilities, as exploited by enemy IMINT systems.

z Target packets with imagery of the high-value targets and high-payoff targets that include critical elements of the targets and potential collateral damage.

z Imagery that supports combat assessment to confirm damage, determine the percentage of damage, or whether the target was unaffected.

z Advanced geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) products that can determine change detection, specific weapon system identifications, chemical compositions and material content, and a threat’s ability to employ these weapons.

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9-24. The intelligence officer’s IMINT-related actions during the prepare step include establishing or verifying the portion of the intelligence communications architecture that supports receipt, processing,

displaying, and analysis of imagery. Additionally, the intelligence officer ensures that required IMINT analytical assets and resources are prepared to provide support or are available through intelligence reach. Lastly, the intelligence officer also ensures that IMINT reporting and dissemination channels and procedures are in place and rehearsals are conducted with all pertinent IMINT elements to ensure interoperability.

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9-25. A given target will not necessarily receive continuous coverage due to the possible conflict between the number and priority of targets and the number and availability of imaging assets. However, a commander may decide to have continuous surveillance of certain targets, for specified periods, usually using organic imaging assets (for example, UASs) although this detracts from the commander’s ability to use these assets for other imagery targets within the area of interest.

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9-26. The imagery analyst ensures the IMINT product satisfies the associated intelligence requirements and the product is in the required format. The quality and resolution of the product highly depends on the type of sensor, the platform, collection geometry, the time of day, and the weather conditions. The quality and resolution directly affect the imagery analyst’s ability to identify objects and analyze activity within the images.

Chapter 10