OPELINT architecture assessment methodology

Senior decision makers find it increasingly difficult to sort out complex trades regarding the proper mix of intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR) systems to meet future requirements. Our methodology was used in a major study to gain insight into the cost-effectiveness of alternative air and space SIGINT system architectures in conducting the Operational ELINT (OPELINT) mission. The study relied heavily on the SIGINT Collection (SCOLL) simulation. We developed a comprehensive scenario, threat emitter data, and concept of operations that could be accepted across a diverse community of interests. In the study, we compared several alternative air/space SIGINT architectures to a reference architecture using a new set of MOEs specifically developed to measure OPELINT collection performance. The study provided senior leaders useful insights into the architecture trades and the methodology provides a sound scientific basis for conducting future SIGINT architecture analyses.