ISTAR
Encyclopedia
ISTAR stands for Intelligence
, Surveillance
, Target Acquisition
, and Reconnaissance
. In its macroscopic sense, ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing the information they gather.
Information
is collected on the battlefield through systematic observation by deployed soldiers and a variety of electronic sensors. Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance are methods of obtaining this information. The information is then passed to intelligence personnel for analysis, and then to the commander and his staff for the formulation of battle plans. Intelligence
is processed information that is relevant and contributes to an understanding of the ground, and of enemy dispositions and intents.
ISTAR is the process of integrating the intelligence process with surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance tasks in order to improve a commander’s situational awareness and consequently their decision making. The inclusion of the "I" is important as it recognizes the importance of taking the information from all of the sensors and processing it into useful knowledge.
ISTAR can also refer to:
used by the US Army in place of STAR or ISTAR. Also a term used to identify certain US Army units: for instance, 3rd Squadron, 153rd RSTA
. These units serve a similar role to the belowmentioned US Marine Corps STA platoons, but on a larger scale.
Examples of ISR systems include surveillance and reconnaissance systems ranging from satellites, to manned aircraft such as the U-2
, to unmanned aircraft systems such as the US Air Force’s Global Hawk and Predator and the US Army’s Hunter
, to other ground-, air-, sea-, or space-based equipment, and to human intelligence teams. The intelligence data provided by these ISR systems can take many forms, including optical, radar, or infrared images or electronic signals. Effective ISR data can provide early warning of enemy threats as well as enable military forces to increase effectiveness, coordination, and lethality, and demand for ISR capabilities to support ongoing military operations has increased.
ISR concepts are also associated with certain intelligence units, for instance Task Force ODIN
, ISR TF (Company+) in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan. In the United States, the similar entity is used within their Marine Corps's Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Intelligence Group (SRIG). The SRIG modelled as a consolidated military intelligence collection agency, most of the gathered intelligence are collected from many sources (i.e. STA Sniper platoons, Marine reconnaissance assets, signal intelligence, etc.).
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
, Surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
, Target Acquisition
Target Acquisition
In the military, target acquisition denotes any process that provides detailed information about enemy forces and locates them with sufficient accuracy to permit continued monitoring or attacking it....
, and Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
. In its macroscopic sense, ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing the information they gather.
Information
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
is collected on the battlefield through systematic observation by deployed soldiers and a variety of electronic sensors. Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance are methods of obtaining this information. The information is then passed to intelligence personnel for analysis, and then to the commander and his staff for the formulation of battle plans. Intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
is processed information that is relevant and contributes to an understanding of the ground, and of enemy dispositions and intents.
ISTAR is the process of integrating the intelligence process with surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance tasks in order to improve a commander’s situational awareness and consequently their decision making. The inclusion of the "I" is important as it recognizes the importance of taking the information from all of the sensors and processing it into useful knowledge.
ISTAR can also refer to:
- a unit or sub unit with ISTAR as a task (e.g.: an ISTAR Squadron)
- equipment required to support the task
Variations of ISTAR
There are several variations on the "ISTAR" acronym. Some variations reflect specific emphasis on certain aspects of ISTAR.STAR (Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance)
A term used when emphasis is to be placed on the sensing component of ISTAR.RSTA (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition)
A termRSTA (U.S. Army)
Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition , is a type of unit in the United States Army.-Overview and makeup:RSTA units are small reconnaissance units based on cavalry squadrons, and act at the Squadron level as a Brigade Reconnaissance Team for the Regiment .Some units, such as the...
used by the US Army in place of STAR or ISTAR. Also a term used to identify certain US Army units: for instance, 3rd Squadron, 153rd RSTA
RSTA (U.S. Army)
Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition , is a type of unit in the United States Army.-Overview and makeup:RSTA units are small reconnaissance units based on cavalry squadrons, and act at the Squadron level as a Brigade Reconnaissance Team for the Regiment .Some units, such as the...
. These units serve a similar role to the belowmentioned US Marine Corps STA platoons, but on a larger scale.
STA (Surveillance and Target Acquisition)
Used to designate one of the following:- A US Military Occupational SpecialtyMilitary Occupational SpecialtyA United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...
(MOS) - specifically a STA sniper (USMC)STA sniper (USMC)A Scout Sniper Platoon is a United States Marine Corps unit used primarily for information-gathering. Taking out hard targets and enemy personnel is not their main priority, although it is a secondary option... - The role of a unit (e.g. STA Patrol) or equipment (Artillery STA)
- A doctrine similar to ISTAR.
ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance)
ISR encompasses multiple activities related to the planning and operation of systems that collect, process, and disseminate data in support of current and future military operations.Examples of ISR systems include surveillance and reconnaissance systems ranging from satellites, to manned aircraft such as the U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
, to unmanned aircraft systems such as the US Air Force’s Global Hawk and Predator and the US Army’s Hunter
RQ-5 Hunter
The RQ-5 Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle was originally intended to serve as the United States Army's Short Range UAV system for division and corps commanders. It took off and landed on runways. It used a gimbaled EO/IR sensor to relay its video in real time via a second airborne Hunter over a...
, to other ground-, air-, sea-, or space-based equipment, and to human intelligence teams. The intelligence data provided by these ISR systems can take many forms, including optical, radar, or infrared images or electronic signals. Effective ISR data can provide early warning of enemy threats as well as enable military forces to increase effectiveness, coordination, and lethality, and demand for ISR capabilities to support ongoing military operations has increased.
ISR concepts are also associated with certain intelligence units, for instance Task Force ODIN
Task Force ODIN
Task Force ODIN, whose name is an acronym for Observe, Detect, Identify, and Neutralize, is a United States Army aviation battalion created in August 2006 to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition operations to combat insurgent operators of improvised explosive devices in...
, ISR TF (Company+) in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan. In the United States, the similar entity is used within their Marine Corps's Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Intelligence Group (SRIG). The SRIG modelled as a consolidated military intelligence collection agency, most of the gathered intelligence are collected from many sources (i.e. STA Sniper platoons, Marine reconnaissance assets, signal intelligence, etc.).
ISTAR Units and Formations
- RSTA (U.S. Army)RSTA (U.S. Army)Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition , is a type of unit in the United States Army.-Overview and makeup:RSTA units are small reconnaissance units based on cavalry squadrons, and act at the Squadron level as a Brigade Reconnaissance Team for the Regiment .Some units, such as the...
- Long Range SurveillanceLong Range SurveillanceLong Range Surveillance units are specially trained elite Surveillance units of the United States Army that are employed by Military Intelligence Units for gathering information from deep within hostile territories....
Units (US Army) - Artillery STA
- STA sniper (USMC)STA sniper (USMC)A Scout Sniper Platoon is a United States Marine Corps unit used primarily for information-gathering. Taking out hard targets and enemy personnel is not their main priority, although it is a secondary option...
- Honourable Artillery CompanyHonourable Artillery CompanyThe Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
- 21 SAS
- Intelligence batallion (Norwegian Army)
- JegerkompanietJegerkompanietJegerkompaniet / ISTAR is the Norwegian Army's northern-most unit. It is deployed to the world's northern-most military garrison, Porsangmoen, at 70 degrees northern latitude. The company has both conscripts and professional soldiers...
(Norwegian Army) - KystjegerkommandoenKystjegerkommandoenKystjegerkommandoen is a Norwegian amphibious unit trained to operate in littoral combat theatres, filling the role of a marine corps and coastal artillery....
( Norwegian Coastal Rangers ) - Garnisonen i Sør-VarangerGarnisonen i Sør-VarangerThe Sør-Varanger Garrison is a military camp located next to Høybuktmoen Airport near Kirkenes in Sør-Varanger, Norway. The Garrison is under the control of the Norwegian Army and is organized as a battalion. The garrison...
(Borderguard, Norwegian Army) - 103 ISTAR battalion103 ISTAR battalion103 ISTAR-battalion is a cavalry reconnaissance regiment in the Royal Netherlands Army. The battalion is the main part of the "Regiment Huzaren van Boreel", or "Boreel's Own Hussars"...
(Dutch Army) - ISTAR battalion (Belgian ArmyBelgian ArmyThe Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
) - ISTAR battalion (Norwegian Army
- ISTAR HQ platoon (Norwegian Army))
- NBG ISTAR TF (EU Nordic Battle Group)
- ISTAR (Canadian Army)
- 62nd Svarzochna Brigada (Bulgarian Armed Forces)
- SIGSärskilda InhämtningsgruppenSärskilda Inhämtningsgruppen is one of the two Swedish special operations units and was created in 2006, when it broke out of the Parachute Ranger School Fallskärmsjägarskolan. The exact number of operatives is classified but is thought to be between 50 and 70, with an average age of 30...
(Swedish Armed Forces) - Special Support & Reconnaissance Company - SSRPatruljekompagnietThe Special Support and Reconnaissance Company , until 1 January 2007 known as the Patrol Company Army Operational Command is the only remaining Long Range Surveillance Company / Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Coy) in the Danish Armed Forces...
(Danish Armed Forces) - ISTAR Bat TF 11 ad hoc (Swiss Armed Forces)
- 350. military intelligence battalion ( 350. vojnoobavještajna bojna ) ( Croatian Army )
- Razuznavacki bataljon na ARM, Republika Makedonija
- 5. obveščevalno-izvidniški bataljon, 5th Intelligence-Reconnaissance Btn, Military of Slovenia
- Regimiento de Inteligencia 1 (1st Intelligence Regiment, Spanish ArmySpanish ArmyThe Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
)
See also
- Surveillance, Intelligence, Reconnaissance Group (SRIG) USMC
- C4ISTARC4ISTARIn military usage, a number of abbreviations in the format C followed by additional letters are used, based on expanded versions of the abbreviation C2 - command and control.C2I stands for command, control, and intelligence....
, a broader concept that also includes Command, Control, Communications and Computers. - CARVER matrixCARVER matrixThe CARVER matrix was developed by the United States special operations forces during the Vietnam War. CARVER is an acronym that stands for Criticality, Accessibility, Recuperability, Vulnerability, Effect and Recognizability and is a system to identify and rank specific targets so that attack...