How to Apply Technology to Counterterrorism Intelligence: The Need for a “System of Systems Approach”
How to Apply Technology to Counterterrorism Intelligence: The Need for a “System of Systems Approach”

Summary/Abstract: The present article seeks to investigate the manner in which the U.S. and its allies could maintain their technological and human capital advantage in their counterterrorism strategy. The security issue addressed by the present article focuses on the type of conflict in which the U.S. is currently engaged, namely idiosyncratic warfare. In such a context, the obvious task of the U.S. intelligence community is to devise the proper means, by creating a synergy between human intelligence and technological capabilities, to uncover, disrupt and prevent terrorist plots, using various means, including many types of advanced technologies. The shortcomings of TECHINT are also evaluated with a lot of details, together with effectiveness of what the author calls synergy between TECHINT and HUMINT. The conclusion is that sensor fusion and platform collaboration through a “system of systems” approach address the new requirements for persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Target Acquisition in complex urban areas. Moreover, inter-agency cooperation is another benchmark that must be met in order to increase the counterterrorism ability of the intelligence community.

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