Goorjian A.
Ferrell
30/12/2023
W4: Midterm Project – 2nd Essay Assignment
1. How do we learn about objects of interest to intelligence through matter/energy
interaction: emission, reflection, refraction, and absorption? Provide examples.
a. The four matter/energy interactions that we find on objects of interest (OI)
tells us about the subject’s material composition, size, and properties. To
detect and measure the interactions that exist between matter and energy, one
would use the electromagnetic spectrum to determine the amount of radiation
that emits from the object which are displayed through a spectrum of colours.
This spectrum would tell you how warm or cold the surface of the object is
through thermal radiation, the hotter an object is the more light it emits, an
example would be metal being heated by a stove or fire as the heat is being
absorbed by the metallic material.
Reflection can show us the density of an object, as light travels towards
objects it is reflected and the amount of refracted light can tell us whether we
are looking at a mirror or a car. The shiny metallic surface of a car will reflect
the light waves far greater than water or stone as these surfaces, in addition the
colour gamut of an object is visible because of the light frequency. (The Big
Idea, 2023)
Sensitive equipment designed to capture these spectrums, such as satellites,
can use light waves to help observers interpret what they are seeing, such as
the composition and properties of stars and planets, their surface temperature
based on the light emitted, and their radial velocity. Electronic Intelligence
(ELINT) collectors use these properties of transmission, reflection, absorption,
and refraction to determine the composition of observed materials, their
chemical makeup, and the amount of energy being emitted to identify military
weapons or hidden installations. (G&EnE, 2023)
2. Describe resolution, discuss how this applies to intelligence, and define the
principal measures of resolution used to analyze and evaluate collected
information. Does resolution have meaning for ELINT, COMINT, or even
HUMINT?
a. There are four resolutions properties: spatial, spectral, temporal, radiometric.
Spatial resolution is the amount of detail within a photographic image that can
be observed with the human eye. The higher the image resolution, the more
pixels within it, the greater the detail on the digital image to be observed, these
are the standard imagery used with drones as they capture imagery for
intelligence analysts to scrutinize.
Spectral resolution detects electronic frequencies, these include radio waves
and light waves that are sent, received, and redirected through surfaces.
Temporal resolution is the amount of time required to revisit and capture data
for a location, repeated captures of the area over time allows observers to
combine them and provide context by creating a time lapse of movement.
(Resolutions of Remote Sensing, 2023)
Radiometric resolution is how much information is perceived through by the
satellite, it is the number of pixels in an image and the number of bits
represented as energy. The higher the pixels in an image the more information
there is to interpret in relation to the colour hues and shades, this would allow
oceanographers, for instance, to detect any changes to the ocean surface based
on its colour.(EarthData, 2023)
Resolutions have a significant meaning for electronic intelligence (ELINT),
communications intelligence (COMINT), and human intelligence (HUMINT).
ELINT uses resolutions to help identify and distinguish between electronic
signals and emitters. COMINT uses resolutions to detect signals and intercept
communication signals, while HUMINT can use the data of spatial, temporal,
and radiometric resolutions to determine the validity of their sources from
agents. Resolutions provide a critical component to intelligence collection for
both military commands and intelligence agencies which allow analysts to
effectively gather information about their targets.
3. Describe the four types of satellite orbits and identify what types of collection are
principally done from each orbit type. Explain whether intelligence collection by
satellite is or is not considered a method of clandestine collection.
a. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites have a short orbital period, from 90 to 120
minutes, providing high-resolution observation of locations, and is
characterized by its proximity to the Earth. This orbit is often used for imagery
intelligence (IMGINT) and geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) due to the lower
altitude allowing higher resolution images.
Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) is an orbit that exists between GEO and LEO, it
does have a fixed orbital alignment, compared to the aforementioned, and is
largely used for global navigation systems (GPS) and global navigation
satellite systems (GNSS). This system is ideal for COMINT, GEOINT and
ELINT due to its larger coverage and signal strength capabilities.
Geostationary Orbit (GEO) is characterized by satellites being capable of
maintaining a singular location in respect to Earth, this is capable due to the
satellites position matching the orbital speed of the planet. This orbit is used
primarily by COMINT, GEOINT, ELINT, and IMGINT due to the satellites
fixed position making observation, tracking, and communication far more
effectively and reliable.
High Elliptical Orbit (HEO) is characterized by its ovular or elliptical orbital
path, anywhere from 600 miles to 2500 miles apogee, and has a greater
coverage of the planet which is ideal for scientific surveillance and military
defense while providing ideal communications routes for the high South and
North latitudes. (NASA, 2023)
Intelligence collection can certainly be clandestine if the collection source
comes from commercial or organizationally owned satellites where secrecy
and deniability is of the utmost concern, but primarily (in my view) it is a
covert means of collection due to its capabilities of observing ground targets
without their awareness.
4. How does synthetic aperture radar work and what advantages does it have over
optical imagery. What are the advantages of optical imagery over SAR? In what
situations would you elect to use optical imagery over SAR?
a. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems that illuminate a location by using a
sophisticated electromagnetic (EM) radiation transmitter to saturate a location
with microwaves frequencies and interpreted as voltage emissions that are
returned. (Crockett, 2013) High values of radar cross-section (RCS) are used
to determine the properties of objects being observed, the greater roughness of
a surface the brighter it is within the imagery, with ground surfaces themselves
often displaying lower RCS values to appear dimmer as the deflection of EM
radiation is scattered away from the satellites ‘eye’.
SAR is preferred over optical imagery because the quality of a collected
imagery is unmitigated by the time of day or visible light, which is ideal for
reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and intelligence. While optical
imagery provides finer detailed images and can produce easy-to-understand
coloured images to the human eye, SAR is unaffected by weather conditions
or the amount of illumination within an area which is ideal for detecting man-
made structures. (Crockett, 2013)
5. Describe the three major branches ELINT. Provide a real-life example
(dates/places) of each – do your research!
a. The three main branches of ELINT are; Technical ELINT (TechELINT),
Operational ELINT (OpELINT), and Telemetry Signals Intelligence
(TELINT).
TechELINT describes the signal structure, emission characteristics, modes of
operation, emitter functions, and weapons systems associated with emitters
such as radars, beacons, jammers, and navigational systems. In simpler terms,
it is the careful analysis of signals intercepted through ELINT hardware.
TechELINT can be used to locate aircraft, intercept signals, or used in
operational countermeasures for electronic warfare. (Bernard, 2009) The RC-
135U aircraft is specifically designed to collect TechELINT and TELINT,
which were used to collect intel over parts of the East and South China Sea
and remain in use today as the mobile airborne ELINT base. (Trevithick,
2022)
OpELINT is used to locate threat emitters, determine how long these emitters
have operated, their type, the function they perform, their parameters and
characteristics. Through this analysis, OpELINT provides threat assessments,
or tactical ELINT, which are integral for military operations planning and the
formulation for responses on the battlefield. One of the real-world examples of
OpELINT would be the modified RC-135U aircraft by the US Army, that
served as mobile collection and analysis craft during operation Vietnam War
and operation DESERT STORM. (Bernard, 2009)
TELINT is technical, and intelligence information collected from intercepted,
processed, and analyzed foreign telemetry. TELINT provides information on
the development of foreign space vehicles and missiles, and provided
telemetry from military aircraft. An example of TELINT would during the
Cold War when the NSA developed this technology with the Department of
Defense (DoD) to collect data from Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles
(ICBMs) along the Kamchatka peninsula where the missiles were being tested.
(Station Hypo, 2021)
Sources
Bernard, Richard L. “Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) at NSA”. (2009). Accessed December
31, 2023 from https://www.nsa.gov/portals/75/documents/about/cryptologic-
heritage/historical-figures-publications/publications/misc/elint.pdf
Crockett, Mark T. “An introduction to Synthetic Aperture Radar: a High-Resolution
Alternative to Optical Imaging”. (2013). Accessed December 30, 2023 from
https://myclassroom.apus.edu/shared/commonfolder/security-and-global-studies-
common/Intelligence%20Studies/INTL304/Introduction%20to%20SAR.pdf
EarthData. “What is Remote Sensing?”. (2023). Accessed December 30, 2023 from
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/backgrounders/remote-sensing
G&EnE. “Military Use of Satellite Systems”. (2023). Accessed December 30, 2023 from
https://myclassroom.apus.edu/shared/commonfolder/security-and-global-studies-
common/Intelligence%20Studies/INTL304/LSN_11_Military_Satellite_Use.pdf
NASA. “Catalog of Earth Satellite Orbits”. (2023). Accessed December 30, 2023 from
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/OrbitsCatalog
Resolutions of Remote Sensing. (2023). Accessed December 30, 2023 from
https://myclassroom.apus.edu/shared/commonfolder/security-and-global-studies-
common/Intelligence%20Studies/INTL304/HowRemoteSensonWork.pdf
Station HYPO. “Cold War TELINT – Background (Part 1 of 6)”. 19 June, 2021.
https://stationhypo.com/2021/06/19/telint-during-the-cold-war-background-part-1-of-
6/
The Big Idea. “Reflection and Refraction: Conceptual Physics.” (2023). Accessed December
30, 2023 from https://myclassroom.apus.edu/shared/commonfolder/security-and-
global-studies-common/Intelligence%20Studies/INTL304/edwebz.pdf
Trevithick, Joseph. “U.S. RC-135U Spy Plane Just Surveilled China’s Strategic Southern
Coast”. June 6, 2022. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/air-force-rc-135u-
electronic-intelligence-jet-surveils-chinas-strategic-southern-coast
