Strategy for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance

Numerous reports have highlighted obstacles to the integration of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) into military campaigns and major operations. The root cause of these difficulties is adherence to a centralized Cold War collection management doctrine focused on production rather than goals and objectives. A strategy-oriented approach that balances ISR ends, ways, and means will more effectively meet commander’s needs and expectations. ISR helps decision makers anticipate change, mitigate risk, and shape outcomes. ISR strategy, therefore, is a set of ideas that integrates organizations and balances ends, ways, and means in pursuit of that purpose.