Communications intelligence

Communications Intelligence (COMINT) is a sub-category of signals intelligence that engages in dealing with messages or voice information derived from the interception of foreign communications. It should be noted that COMINT is commonly referred to as SIGINT, which can cause confusion when talking about the broader intelligence disciplines. The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff defines it as "Technical information and intelligence derived from foreign communications by other than the intended recipients".

COMINT, which is defined to be communications among people, will reveal some or all of the following:

1. Who is transmitting and or where they are located. If the transmitter is moving, the report may give a plot of the signal against location. 2. If known, the organizational function of the transmitter. 3. The time and duration of transmission, and the schedule if it is a periodic transmission. 4. The frequencies and other technical characteristics of their transmission. 5. If the transmission is encrypted or not, and if it can be decrypted. If it is possible to intercept either an originally transmitted cleartext or obtain it through cryptanalysis, the language of the communication and a translation (when needed). 6. The addresses, if the signal is not a general broadcast and if addresses are retrievable from the message. These stations may also be COMINT (e.g., a confirmation of the message or a response message), ELINT (e.g., a navigation beacon being activated) or both. Rather than, or in addition to, an address or other identifier, there may be information on the location and signal characteristics of the responder.