Today’s operations are ‘Intelligence led’. With smaller forces available, it makes sense to make sure they are employed efficiently on operations and are deployed to achieve the best effect.

Members of Tactical IMINT Wing (TIW) are normally based at RAF Marham in the UK. They have permanent detachments supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The TIW analysts specialise in the interpretation of Imagery products from a variety of sources such as hand-held cameras, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Imagery Sensors carried by Fast Jets such as the Tornado GR4.

The Imagery Analyst's day will start with receiving a list of nominations for images to be taken and what information is required from that Imagery. The Analyst will then assist the aircrew with their planning so that the imagery sensor - the Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP) or the Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for TORnado (RAPTOR) - captures the image suitable for the task. The aircraft mission will launch, capture the Imagery and then can pass it on via a data-link or it will be stored in a hard drive to be exploited once the aircraft lands.

The Analyst's real business starts now. Looking at the Imagery via a specialist computer workstation, the Analyst then searches the images to try and answer the questions posed by the demanders.

This can be tasks that look for damage to civilian facilities, check if routes and bridges can be used by convoys, check for disturbed earth (to find possible arms caches) and a variety of other tasks such as tracking insurgents and preventing attacks against Coalition Forces. Imagery is also used to support local forces as well, in their efforts to improve their own security.

Vital information that is urgently required will be communicated and is followed up with the Imagery and a detailed report. Today’s sensors can capture a lot of Imagery so a long working day is the norm as the Analysts push out the products that are vital to support operations.

Despite the long days, the small TIW teams are a tight-knit bunch and the opportunity to provide Intelligence that is vital to operations, keeps morale high. Operations staff provide feedback as to how the analysis assisted the operations and the Analysts use this information to add to their own experience and so to improve for the future.

Photographs: MOD.

Image one: Tactical Reconnaissance Imagery.

Image two: A crew member at work.