U.S. Air Force
Intelligence Squadrons
The analysts, targeteers, and collection managers who produce the intelligence that drives air operations. From Cold War photo interpretation to real-time ISR fusion, Intelligence turns data into decisions.
Cold War to Persistent ISR
1947 - Present
COLD WAR
RECONNAISSANCE
U-2
Dragon Lady
SR-71
Blackbird
Corona
Spy Satellite
Imagery
PHOTO ANALYSIS
Cold War intelligence collection defined the modern ISR enterprise. U-2 flights over the Soviet Union discovered missile sites. The SR-71 Blackbird flew at Mach 3 to photograph denied areas. Corona satellites provided the first space-based imagery intelligence. Photo interpreters at the National Photographic Interpretation Center analyzed every frame. The Cuban Missile Crisis was resolved because intelligence analysts correctly identified SS-4 missile sites from U-2 photography.
Read more
Explore Collection
GWOT ISR
PERSISTENT OVERWATCH
MQ-9
Reaper RPA
DCGS
Intel Processing
FMV
Full Motion Video
F3EAD
FIND FIX FINISH
The GWOT created the era of persistent ISR. MQ-9 Reapers orbited over Afghanistan and Iraq for hours, streaming full-motion video to intelligence analysts on the ground. DCGS sites across the U.S. processed that data in near real-time, feeding the Find, Fix, Finish, Exploit, Analyze, Disseminate targeting cycle. Intelligence squadrons at Langley, Beale, and distributed sites worldwide became the backbone of the counterterrorism kill chain.
Read more
Explore Collection
14N
Intel Officer AOC
DCGS
Distributed Ground Sys
ISR
Collection & Analysis
F3EAD
Targeting Cycle