Abstract

This chapter examines the rapidly growing area of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). The chapter includes the referencing of further-ranging target acquisition and command, control, communications and computers, as well as cyber, considerations – extending its evaluation of ISR into ISTAR and C4ISR enterprises. The domain of ISR is constantly expanding and being extended, particularly as there are greater innovative movements manifested both structurally and culturally away from merely TPED (tasking, processing, exploitation and dissemination) activities to more of ‘a high-tech intelligence enterprise’ enacted at computer speeds in real time. The several implications for defence, strategy and other war-to-peace-related activities, together with their attendant study, are similarly engaged throughout. Amid substantial disruption, ISR clearly remains on a continuum of much challenging change. Contemporary ISR trends are deserving of their further examination and understanding by the full spectrum of practitioners and analysts alike.