Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency web banner. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Andy Yacenda, Defense Media Activity-San Antonio)
Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency fact sheet banner. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Andy Yacenda, Defense Media Activity-San Antonio).
Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency was activated June 8, 2007, with headquarters at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Formerly known as Air Intelligence Agency, the Air Force ISR Agency is aligned under the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance as a field operating agency.
Mission
The agency's mission is to organize, train, equip and present assigned forces and capabilities to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for combatant commanders and the nation. The agency also implements and oversees execution of Air Force headquarters policy and guidance to expand Air Force ISR capabilities to meet current and future challenges.
Personnel The agency's almost 17,000 people serve at approximately 65 locations worldwide.
Organization The 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, 70th ISR Wing, 361st ISR Group, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and the Air Force Technical Applications Center are aligned under the Air Force ISR Agency. The agency is also responsible for mission management and support of signals intelligence operations for Twenty-Fourth Air Force and the Twelfth Air Force's 55th Wing. In addition, the agency provides guidance to 22 Air National Guard units with ISR responsibilities. The Air Force ISR Agency further supplies mission management and support for specific intelligence operations within all of these organizations. Mission support includes organizing, training and equipping the service's cryptologic elements
480th ISR Wing The 480th ISR Wing, with headquarters at Langley AFB, Va., is the Air Force leader in globally networked ISR operations. The wing operates and maintains the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System, or DCGS, also known as the "Sentinel" weapon system. It conducts imagery, cryptologic and measurement and signatures intelligence activities to meet Air Force needs and deliver valuable ISR information and analysis to U.S. warfighters across the globe. The 480th ISR Wing has five groups in locations around the world from South Korea to Germany.
70th ISR Wing
The 70th ISR Wing, with headquarters at Fort George G. Meade, Md., integrates Air Force capabilities into global cryptologic operations, directly supporting national-level decision makers, combatant commanders and tactical warfighters. The wing works closely with the National Security Agency, leveraging the net-centric capabilities of a worldwide signals intelligence enterprise to conduct national-tactical integration for joint and combined Air Force combat operations. The wing includes six intelligence groups located in the U.S., Pacific and European theaters.
National Air and Space Intelligence Center
The National Air and Space Intelligence Center, with headquarters at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the primary Department of Defense producer of foreign air and space intelligence. NASIC develops its products by analyzing all available data on foreign aerospace forces and weapons systems to determine performance characteristics, capabilities, vulnerabilities, and intentions. NASIC assessments are often an important factor in shaping national security and defense policies. As the DOD experts on foreign aerospace system capabilities, the center also supports weapons treaty negotiations and verification. Since 1961 the center's mission and resources have expanded to meet the challenge of worldwide technological developments and the accompanying national need for aerospace intelligence. In recent years, the emphasis has increasingly shifted toward evaluation of worldwide aerospace systems and the production of tailored, customer-specific products.
Air Force Technical Applications Center
The Air Force Technical Applications Center, with headquarters at Patrick AFB, Fla., performs nuclear treaty monitoring and nuclear event detection. AFTAC provides national authorities quality technical measurements to monitor nuclear treaty compliance and develops advanced proliferation monitoring technologies to preserve our nation's security. AFTAC has been performing its nuclear event detection mission since its inception in 1973.
361st ISR Group
The 361st ISR Group, with headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Fla., provides specialized ISR capabilities to the Air Force Special Operation Command. They train, equip and present more than 250 Airmen to provide specialized ISR forces for worldwide employment.
Point of Contact Air Force ISR Agency, Public Affairs Office; 102 Hall Blvd, Ste 272; San Antonio, Texas 78243-7089; DSN 969-2166 or 210-977-2166.
