What is SIGINT primarily concerned with?

SIGINT, or Signals Intelligence, is primarily focused on the collection and analysis of information from intercepted communications. This includes a wide range of electronic signals, such as voice communications, text messages, emails, and other forms of data transmitted over various communication networks.

The reason communication intercepts are at the heart of SIGINT is that they provide critical insights into the intentions, capabilities, and activities of potential adversaries. Analyzing these communications can help in understanding the situation on the ground, anticipating threats, and making informed decisions related to national security.

In contrast, physical sources pertain more to tangible evidence or items collected from a location, satellite imagery is focused on visual data from space-based platforms, and human sources involve information obtained from informants or agents. While all these methods can be valuable for intelligence-gathering efforts, SIGINT’s core operation revolves around audio and electronic intercepts, which makes communication intercepts the correct focus.