Air Force ISR Agency Overview The Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, with headquarters at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was activated June 8, 2007. Formerly known as the Air Intelligence Agency, the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency is aligned under the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance as a field operating agency. Major elements of the agency are described below.
AFTAC The Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) is a surveillance organization subordinate to the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency at Lackland AFB, Texas. AFTAC is at Patrick Air Force Base on Florida’s east coast and is the sole Department of Defense agency operating and maintaining a global network of nuclear event detection sensors. There are 10 detachments, four operating locations and more than 60 unmanned equipment locations around the world that support the long-range detection mission. AFTAC employs more than 1,000 military, civilian and contract personnel. AFTAC’s global network of nuclear event detection sensors is called the U.S. Atomic Energy Detection System. Once the USAEDS senses a disturbance underground, underwater, in the atmosphere or in space, the event is analyzed for nuclear www.TISR-kmi.com
identification and findings are reported to senior U.S. decision-makers through Headquarters U.S. Air Force. AFTAC’s nuclear event detection mission is directly linked to its nuclear treaty-monitoring mission. AFTAC monitors signatory countries’ compliance with the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty—this treaty prohibits nuclear testing anywhere but underground, and prohibits the venting of nuclear debris or radiation from those tests into the atmosphere outside the country’s national borders. AFTAC also monitors the Threshold Test Ban Treaty of 1974 and the Peaceful Nuclear Explosion Treaty of 1976. The 1974 treaty limits the size of underground nuclear tests to 150 kilotons, while the 1976 treaty prohibits the testing of nuclear devices outside of agreed treaty sites. AFTAC is on the leading edge of technological research and the evaluation of verification technologies for current and future treaties involving weapons of mass destruction that threaten national security. In addition, AFTAC’s unique capabilities and resources can be leveraged during national and international disasters. Recently, AFTAC was called upon to respond to the 9.0 earthquake in Fukushima, Japan, and the ensuing nuclear reactor crisis. AFTAC was able to provide accurate radiation dose estimates to Pacific Command leadership, which were crucial for evaluating the safety of U.S. personnel stationed in Japan. In 2011, AFTAC broke ground on a $158 million facilities recapitalization project—
the Air Force’s largest military construction project in FY11. The project includes two operational facilities, a 276,000 square foot headquarters replacement facility and a 38,000 square foot radiochemistry laboratory. Additionally, the project includes a 23,000 square foot central utility plant and a four-story parking structure. The Army Corps of Engineers awarded the design/ build construction contract in June 2011. Major construction will begin in January 2012 with beneficial occupancy expected in January 2014.
NASIC The National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) is DoD’s primary source for foreign air and space threats. NASIC creates integrated, predictive intelligence in the air, space and cyberspace domains enabling full spectrum military operations, force modernization and policymaking. NASIC analysts create predictive intelligence to ensure the nation is at the cutting edge of understanding foreign threats to U.S. air and space operations. NASIC all-source analysts are national experts on threats that span air, space and cyberspace domains, and NASIC is a recognized innovator in information and data exploitation. The center’s world-class connectivity ensures analysts have physical access to key mission data and partnerships throughout the intelligence community. TISR 1.5 | 21