VAFC Air Intelligence Agency
Mission
The AIA mission is to gain, exploit, defend and attack information to ensure
superiority in the air, space and information domains. The agency's people worldwide
deliver flexible collection, tailored air and space intelligence, weapons monitoring and
information warfare products and services.
Organizations and
Functions
National Air
Intelligence Center
The National Air Intelligence
Center, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the primary Department
of Defense producer of foreign aerospace intelligence. The NAIC develops its products by
analyzing all available data on foreign aerospace forces and weapons systems to determine
performance characteristics, capabilities, vulnerabilities, and intentions. Center
assessments are also an important factor in shaping national security and defense
policies. As the DOD experts on foreign aerospace system capabilities, center personnel
historically have also been involved in supporting American weapons treaty negotiations
and verification.
The Air Force Systems
Command's Foreign Technology Division was the organizational beginning of today's National
Air Intelligence Center. Since the start of its organizational lineage in 1961, the unit'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. After name
changes to Foreign Technology Center, and Foreign Aerospace Science and Technology Center,
the Air Force assigned the 480th IG to it and redesigned the unit National Air
Intelligence Center Oct. 1, 1993.
Air Force Information
Warfare Center
The Air Force Information
Warfare Center at Kelly AFB, Texas, is engaged in a myriad of activities supporting its
role as the Air Force Information Warfare executive agent.
Its mission is to develop,
maintain and deploy information warfare/command and control warfare capabilities in
support of operations, campaign planning, acquisition and testing. The Center acts as the
time sensitive, single focal point for intelligence data and C2W services. It provides
technical expertise for computer and communications security and is the Air Force's focal
point for tactical deception and operations security training.
The AFIWC was activated Sept.
10, 1993 by combining the Air Force Electronic Warfare Center, and elements of the Air
Force Cryptologic Support Center's securities directorate. The AFEWC provided electronic
combat and technical expertise for Desert Storm C2W successes. Coupled with AFCSC's
technical skills in command, control, communications and computer systems security, the
merger of the two organizations provided a solid baseline for the new IW mission.
497th Intelligence Group
The 497th IG, with
headquarters at Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., provides worldwide intelligence
infrastructure support, physical and personal security, threat support to weapon systems
acquisition and employment and automation support. The group also serves as the Washington
area focal point for Air Force intelligence planning, logistics and readiness issues,
communications/computer system support and all military and civilian personnel actions and
programs. The 497th also includes the Air Force Departmental Imagery Requirements office.
Formerly known as the Air Force Intelligence Support Agency, the group was renamed the
497th Oct. 1, 1993.
543rd Intelligence Group
The 543rd Intelligence Group,
with headquarters at Kelly AFB, Texas, is a major component of the 67th Intelligence Wing.
The group is headquarters for two Intelligence Squadrons, the 31st IS at Fort Gordon, Ga.;
and the 93rd IS, Lackland AFB, Texas. These squadrons constitute the Air Force elements of
Regional SIGINT Operations Centers at the two locations and support national-level
customers and specified commanders in chief. The 543rd was activated in March 1997.
544th Intelligence Group
The 544th IG, with
headquarters at Peterson AFB, Colo., directs, manages and supports units worldwide in the
collection, refinement and delivery of wholesale intelligence. Personnel operate C4I
systems, providing space surveillance, threat warning and technical analysis to Air Force
Space Command, United States Space Command and the North American Aerospace Defense
Command. The group acts as an interface in working infrastructure issues between
collocated and associated AIA units. The 544th was activated on Sept. 7, 1993 to provide a
single focal point for AIA involvement in worldwide space issues and to posture AIA to
better support national agencies.
67th Intelligence Wing
The 67th Intelligence Wing,
with headquarters at Kelly AFB, Texas, manages the agency's global mission. As the only
intelligence wing in the Air Force, the 67th IW manages the planning of all-source
intelligence. It assists Air Force components in the development of concepts, exercises
and employment of AIA forces to support contingency, low-intensity conflict, counter-drug
and special operations as AIA's integrated wing. Subordinate to the wing are five
intelligence groups located in the continental U.S., Hawaii and Germany. With more than
9,600 personnel assigned, the 67th IW is one of the Air Force's largest wings. The 67th IW
is the only Air Force wing with people and resources permanently located around the world,
providing continuous coverage to fulfill its global responsibilities. The wing was
activated on Oct. 1, 1993.
Joint Information
Operations Center
AIA also supports the Joint
Information Operation Center, a Joint Chiefs of Staff Organization collocated with the
headquarters. The AIA commander is also the JIOC director.
