Electronic intelligence (ELINT) is intelligence collected through electronic sensors primarily used in military applications. These signals do not include speech or text, which falls under the category of communications intelligence (COMINT). ELINT aims to provide information that can support decision-making and give organizations a strategic advantage over competitors. The data gathered through ELINT is usually classified and shared on a need-to-know basis.
ELINT encompasses three main types: TechELINT focusing on technical aspects, OpELINT aimed at understanding operational patterns, and TELINT providing insights into foreign systems. These types are often used together to support military planning and electronic warfare tactics.
ELINT is crucial for military operations, helping to improve situational awareness, locate enemy positions, and implement countermeasures against electronic threats. It is also used to understand and counter adversaries’ electronic capabilities. In the U.S., ELINT became prominent during World War II with the invention of radar, leading to the establishment of ELINT programs within military and intelligence agencies.
ELINT differs from COMINT, which focuses on communications, and both are subcategories of signals intelligence (SIGINT). SIGINT includes information derived from communications as well as electronic signals. The advancements in ELINT have significantly enhanced the U.S. and its allies’ intelligence gathering capabilities for electronic warfare and threat mitigation.