text: Chapter 5
  Information Collection Assets
  This chapter discusses information collection assets and capability. It then discusses
  those assets by level, phase, and echelon. Lastly, this chapter discusses the network-
  enabled information collection.
  INFORMATION COLLECTION CAPABILITY
  5-1. An information collection capability is any human or automated sensor, asset, or processing,
  exploitation, and dissemination system directed to collect information that enables better decisionmaking,
  expands understanding of the operational environment, and supports warfighting functions in decisive
  action. Factors including a unit’s primary mission, typical size area of operations (AO), number of
  personnel, and communications and network limitations significantly affect what sensors, platforms, and
  systems are fielded.
  5-2. When a unit requires more robust collection assets to meet its mission, it may request resources and
  products from higher echelons and adjacent units. During prolonged conflict or joint and multinational
  operations, the conduct of routine or protracted reconnaissance, security, surveillance, and intelligence
  operations also impact joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) resource allocation and
  formalized information collection tasking and requesting procedures.
  INFORMATION COLLECTION PLAN BY LEVEL
  5-3. Staffs ensure the collection activities remain focused on the commander’s critical information
  requirements (CCIRs). Staffs continuously update products and incorporate those products into the running
  estimates and common operational picture (COP). Lastly, staffs quickly identify and report threats and
  decisive points in the AO.
  5-4. Paragraphs 5-5 through 5-8 illustrate collection activities at different levels during different activities
  of an operation. Strategic, operational, and tactical levels have different tasks to perform during the
  activities of an operation, but all levels work together to provide commanders the intelligence needed to
  complete each phase of an operation. Table 5-1 (page 5-2) provides some examples of information
  collection assets.
  STRATEGIC
  5-5. National and theater-level collection assets provide tactical forces updates before and during
  deployment. Theater-level shaping operations require actionable intelligence including adversary centers of
  gravity and decision points as well as the prediction of adversary anti-access measures. Space-based
  resources are important to support situational awareness during deployment and entry phases because
  they—
  * Monitor protection indicators.
  * Provide warning of ballistic missile launches threatening aerial and seaports of debarkation and
  other threats to arriving forces.
  * Provide the communications links to forces en route.
  * Provide meteorological information that could affect operations.