Imagery Intelligence: Issues for Congress (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
April 12, 2002 |
| Report Number |
RL31369 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Richard A. Best, Jr., Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Intelligence derived from satellites has become an essential element of military operations and
foreign
policymaking. In particular, precise imagery from space-based collection systems makes possible the
effective use of precision-guided munitions that is becoming the basis of U.S. defense planning.
Imagery intelligence also provides the factual bases for addressing many foreign policy issues.
Imagery is collected by satellites acquired and operated by the National Reconnaissance Office
(NRO), an organization with a record of enormous technological achievements since its creation in
1961. Imagery collected by the NRO is processed, analyzed, exploited, and disseminated by another
organization, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA). NIMA was established in 1996,
incorporating the Defense Mapping Agency and various intelligence offices.
Congress has been concerned with satellite imagery because of its critical importance and its
high
costs. Independent commissions established by Congress to assess the state of the imagery
intelligence effort have concluded that significant changes need to be made in the way the Nation's
imagery effort is conducted. There is a consensus that greater emphasis should be placed on better
collection targeting and improving processing, exploitation, and dissemination (the processes
collectively termed TPED); that greater attention should be given to acquiring commercial imagery;
and that the management of the imagery effort may need to be changed. Even before the events of
September 11, 2001, there appeared to be a fairly widespread view within congressional committees
that at least some additional funding should be directed towards imagery collection and TPED.
Subsequent military campaigns have underscored the use of imagery in military operations and other
counterterrorist efforts.
TPED encompasses the establishment of a "multi-int" database, i.e. an electronic
file containing
information from all intelligence sources, that will require the balancing of different needs of
intelligence agencies and government consumers. Congress has encouraged NIMA's role in
establishing this database, but obstacles include costs, inherent technical difficulties, and the
administrative and security complications of placing one agency in charge of maintaining and editing
data for a multitude of users.
Some observers advocate more fundamental changes. These include significantly greater
reliance on commercial imagery and a reduction in coverage by Government satellites. In this
approach, the NRO and NIMA would concentrate on developing cutting edge technologies and on
meeting special requirements beyond the capabilities of the private sector. Some would reconsider
the next generation of imagery-collecting satellites.
Satellite imagery is among the most important technological achievements of the Intelligence
Community; maintaining a capability to support military operations that avoid inflicting vast civilian
damages provides the underlying justification for a continuing effort.
