DEFINITION OF SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00158R000200120035-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 21, 2009
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: March 24, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

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DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
SIGINT Committee
24 March 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR: Acting Director of Central Intelligence
5 APR 7983
THROUGH: ? Director, Intelligence Community Staff
SUBJECT: Definition of Signals Intelligence
1. Action Requested: This memorandum contains an interpretation,
recently formulated by the SIGINT Committee, of the definition of Signals
Intelligence (SIGINT) and related activities and the relationship between
these and other intelligence collection and processing disciplines. Your
concurrence in this interpretation is requested.
2. Background: A new interpretation was necessitated by changing and
expanding technological capabilities for transmitting, collecting, and
processing information in today's environment. The SIGINT Committee has had
to deal with several issues recently which have involved identifying
distinctions between SIGINT and other forms of intelligence information. The
most immediately pertinent were discussions of the propriety of retaining in
the SIGINT Committee Charter the function of developing statements of
requirements for collection and exploitation of non-imaging infrared, coherent
light, and non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) data. Also included was
the determination of an appropriate mechanism for tasking the US SIGINT System
(USSS) to collect such data as EMP or unintentional radiations if the sources
have been defined as not within the general purview of "SIGINT" require-
ments. The former problem was raised by the Director, DIA, and AFIN. The
latter rose in the SIRVES in the context of an MIA request for EMP
data.
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SECRET
3. Discussion: The SIGINT Committee used the primary definition of
SIGINT which is contained in the Glossary of Intelligence Terms and
Definitions as a starting point for deliberation:
Signals Intelligence (SIGINT): Intelligence information comprising
either individually or in combination all communications
intelligence, electronics intelligence, and foreign instrumentation
signals intelligence, however transmitted.
4. The Committee reaffirms that definition. However, the Committee
also believes that the complexity of the subject requires inclusion of an
expanded description of the relationships between the components of SIGINT and
other collection and processing disciplines, including the components of what
the Department of Defense refers to as Measurement and Signature Intelligence
(MASINT). (As a matter of interest, audio surveillance operations were
defined as not being components of SIGINT.) With your concurrence the
material in the attachment will be used as a basis for changing the Signals
Intelligence Security Regulations and the SIGINT Committee DCID when they are
next revised
5. Specification of the relationships between the components of SIGINT
and other collection and processing disciplines suggests that the structures
for managing such requirements at the national level require review and
possible modification. The Committee has developed a ran a of options which I
will forward to the D/ICS for consideration.
6. Recommendation: Your concurrence with the definition of SIGINT and
the SIGINT Committee interpretation of the relationship between SIGINT and
other collection and processing disciplines is recommended.
Attachment:
A/S
SECRET
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SUBJECT: Definition of SIGINT
CONCU~--..
sting
NON-CONCUR:
11 APR 1983
irector of Central Intelligence Date
Acting Director of Central Intelligence
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SUBJECT: Definition of SIGINT
DISTRIBUTION:
1--DDCI
2--D/ICS
3--ER
IC Registry
--SC Chrono
6--SC Subject
7--DD/ICS
DCI/ICS/OSC/
(23 March 1983)
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