The heart of Air Force Intelligence is support for operational forces. Air intelligence resources are embedded in each Unified Command's air component, including wing and squadron levels. Air Force intelligence specialists work side by side with planners and operators at every level of command, preparing for operations from disaster and humanitarian relief, peace keeping, counterterrorism and counternarcotics, to full-scale conflict. An array of high-technology sensor systems, worldwide Air Intelligence Agency ground sites, and airborne reconnaissance systems like the U-2 and RC-135, provide information vital to achieve national objectives. Air Force professionals use suites of interoperable analysis tools and dissemination systems to tailor this information to unique Air Force needs. Commanders use it to determine objectives, select options, and plan, conduct and evaluate combat operations. Combat crews us it to avoid threats and to maximize their effectiveness and meet objectives.
Air Force intelligence professionals are taking a leading role in defining the future of warfare. Faced with a multidimensional battlespace, including ground, air, space, and the virtual battlefield of cyberspace, they are seeking innovative ways to establish dominance in air, space, and in the flow of information while protecting our own information and forces from attack.
The Air Intelligence Agency (AIA) is the executive agent for implementing Air Force intelligence policy. AIA operates the National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC), which exploits all source information to produce intelligence on aerospace systems and potential adversaries' capabilities and intentions. Its products directly support warfighters, policymakers, and the weapons acquisition community. The 497th Intelligence Group conducts a host of specialized intelligence support functions for worldwide Air Force units. The Air Force Information Warfare Center (AFIWC) spearheads development of information warfare concepts, tools, and a wide array of support services. The Operations Support Central, part of AFIWC, is a round-the-clock source of information and assistance to forces deployed around the globe.