Collect Signals Intelligence example essay topic

3 SEP 2002 FUTURE OF SIGNALS ANALYSIS Protocols for transferring data, information, or any other signals communication have dramatically changed. Breakthrough technology has changed the way signals are transmitted, collected, analyzed and distributed. Technology has exceeded well beyond first generation robust computers to third and forth generation supercomputers that are small enough to fit in a person's shirt pocket. Signals analysts are expected to engage and explore the realms of the unknown and conquer it with decisive and accurate analysis. The future holds an extremely challenging problem for signals analysis.

The conglomerate of highly skilled analysts is extremely small which poses a problem because as the global market gets larger, skilled signal analysts have a difficult time keeping pace. The Internet has long surpassed its expectations and survivability by at least three folds since the time of its creation. The Internet has provided the ability to process large quantities of data from anywhere in the world with corresponding communication bandwidth with a few simple mouse clicks. The Internet appears to be a conduit for up to 95% of the world's communication transmissions.

A state of the art desktop computer with Internet access is universally available to millions of anonymous individuals at affordable rates. Ingenious individuals constantly cover their footprints while pinging specific websites and e-mail addresses to avoid detection from the United States Intelligence Community. Cryptology applications are becoming extremely advanced and more difficult to distinguish. Scientists and mathematicians are spending years developing indestructible encrypted codes, while also trying to decipher codes. Data is sometimes transmitted in such an unpredictable manner that analysts have difficulty understanding the chaotic system. Cryptology has proved its effectiveness through two World Wars.

Combining legacy with state of the art technology has the potential to create an awesome defense. Less than 1/2% of people will send crucial data or information through unsecured communications. Knowing the severity of decoding encrypted messages, signal analysts must remain aware of new trends and occurring patterns to make successful calls about intelligence. AT&T and MCI telecommunication companies have laid enough fiber optic cables to reach the sun and back to the earth at least three times.

There are many more smaller private and commercial companies that have also laid cable throughout the world. The advantage of fiber optic cables is that they do not emit external signals while transmitting. There are over 200 fibers within the cable, which can transmit data or information. Trying to isolate the fiber with the desired data during the small window of opportunity is practically impossible at the moment. Various techniques are presently being researched and developed to collect signals intelligence efficiently over fiber optics.

Radio wave frequencies are valuable and unrestricted portals that can be accessible to anyone. Radio waves can be transmitted by crude and state of the art systems in either high or low frequencies. Targeting and exploiting known threat frequencies minimizes threats to friendly forces while trying to target unknown frequencies is strenuous, tiresome, and monotonous work. The realm of the unknown is scary for signal analysts. The United States presently does not have enough resources to collect transmissions on all radio waves because the entire radio spectrum is too broad and it requires numerous assets. Political, sociological, cultural, and economical factors determine the needs and future of Signals Intelligence.

The realm of communications is quickly becoming so multifaceted and non traditional that military organizations capabilities have become a phenomenon. Signal analysis has come a long way and still has a tremendous way to go. Signal Intelligence is the key to protecting national security interest and achieving operational objectives.