Editing Signals intelligence (section)

===Intercept management===
Modern SIGINT systems, therefore, have substantial communications among intercept platforms. Even if some platforms are clandestine, there is still a broadcast of information telling them where and how to look for signals.<ref name=FAS-PSTS>{{cite journal|url=https://fas.org/irp/program/process/psts.htm|title=Precision SIGINT Targeting System (PSTS)|publisher=Federation of American Scientists|journal=Intelligence Research Program|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-date=14 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314031126/https://fas.org/irp/program/process/psts.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> A United States targeting system under development in the late 1990s, PSTS, constantly sends out information that helps the interceptors properly aim their antennas and tune their receivers. Larger intercept aircraft, such as the [[Lockheed EP-3|EP-3]] or [[RC-135]], have the on-board capability to do some target analysis and planning, but others, such as the [[Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail|RC-12 GUARDRAIL]], are completely under ground direction. GUARDRAIL aircraft are fairly small and usually work in units of three to cover a tactical SIGINT requirement, whereas the larger aircraft tend to be assigned strategic/national missions.

Before the detailed process of targeting begins, someone has to decide there is a value in collecting information about something. While it would be possible to direct signals intelligence collection at a major sports event, the systems would capture a great deal of noise, news signals, and perhaps announcements in the stadium. If, however, an anti-terrorist organization believed that a small group would be trying to coordinate their efforts using short-range unlicensed radios at the event, SIGINT targeting of radios of that type would be reasonable. Targeting would not know where in the stadium the radios might be located or the exact frequency they are using; those are the functions of subsequent steps such as signal detection and direction finding.

Once the decision to target is made, the various interception points need to cooperate, since resources are limited.

Knowing what interception equipment to use becomes easier when a target country buys its radars and radios from known manufacturers, or is given them as [[military aid]]. National intelligence services keep libraries of devices manufactured by their own country and others, and then use a variety of techniques to learn what equipment is acquired by a given country.

Knowledge of [[physics]] and [[electronic engineering]] further narrows the problem of what types of equipment might be in use. An intelligence aircraft flying well outside the borders of another country will listen for long-range search radars, not short-range fire control radars that would be used by a mobile air defense. Soldiers scouting the front lines of another army know that the other side will be using radios that must be portable and not have huge antennas.