Downloaded from https://www.everyspec.com FM 34-54 Chapter 1 TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE MISSION AND SUPPORT This chapter describes the TECHINT mission, how it supports the warfighter, and presents TECHINT in a historical perspective. TECHINT results from the collection, evaluation, and analysis of foreign warfighting equipment and associated materiel. At the strategic level, the exploitation and interpretation of foreign weapons systems, materiel, and technologies is referred to as scientific and technical intelligence (S&TI). This S&TI covers— Foreign developments in basic and applied research and in applied engineering techniques.
Scientific and technical (S&T) characteristics, capabilities, and limitations of all foreign military systems, weapons, weapon systems, and material. Research and development (R&D) related to these systems and the production methods employed for their manufacture. The TECHINT mission ensures that the warfighter has a clear understanding of the full technological capabilities residing in his opponent’s equipment. With this knowledge, the warfighter adopts countermeasures, operations, and tactics, as necessary, to be successful in any assigned mission. STRATEGIC LEVEL: The US has relied on its military strength as a strategic deterrent to war.
The strength of the US military lies, in part, to the diversity and extent of its technology base. While the US aspires to be the leader in integrating technology, the actual products are available to any buyer. An adversary can achieve temporary technological parity or advantage by acquiring modern systems or capabilities. The world arms market is willing to provide these advanced systems to countries or individuals with the resources to 1-1 GENERAL MISSION TECHINT SUPPORT TO THE WARFIGHTER