Signals Intelligence in the Post-cold War Era

Book excerpt: Signals intelligence (SIGINT), or the collection of intelligence by the interception of communications or monitoring of other electronic signals, is the most productive source of intelligence available to governments and their defence establishments. In the Asia-Pacific region, there are moves to greater defence self-reliance. Throughout the region there has been a significant expansion of SIGNIT capabilities and operations over the past decade, and this is expected to continue over the foreseeable future. Signals Intelligence in the Post-Cold War Era describes these recent developments in global and regional SIGINT capabilities and operations, and provides some explanation for their developments.