Force protection intelligence is intelligence analysis focused on identifying, assessing, and communicating threats to friendly forces, facilities, and operations. Where most intelligence analysis is outward-looking (understanding the adversary’s capabilities and intentions for offensive purposes), force protection intelligence is reflexive — it applies the intelligence function to the protection of one’s own forces.
Functions
Threat assessment. Identifying adversary capabilities and intent to attack friendly forces. This includes assessing the adversary’s indirect fire (rockets, mortars, artillery), direct fire, IED, VBIED, insider threat, cyber, and unconventional attack capabilities.
Vulnerability assessment. Evaluating the vulnerability of friendly installations, routes, and operations to adversary attack. Intelligence staffs identify the physical, procedural, and technical vulnerabilities that adversary forces could exploit.
Threat warning. Providing timely, specific warning of impending adversary attacks on friendly forces. The indications and warning function at the tactical level — detecting adversary preparations for attack and communicating the warning to commanders in time for response.
Counterintelligence support. Assessing the adversary’s intelligence capabilities directed against friendly forces — what the adversary knows about friendly dispositions, operations, and vulnerabilities. Counterintelligence supports force protection by identifying adversary surveillance, collection, and targeting operations.
Intelligence-driven force protection
Force protection intelligence integrates with physical security, operational security, and protective measures:
- Route threat assessment. Intelligence analysis of IED threat along specific routes, informing route selection and counter-IED operations
- Base defense intelligence. Threat assessment for forward operating bases, identifying likely adversary attack methods and timing
- Personnel security. Assessment of insider threat (adversary agents or sympathizers within the force or local workforce)
- Travel advisories. Threat assessment for personnel moving in hostile or semi-permissive environments
The force protection paradox
Excessive force protection can degrade the intelligence collection that force protection depends on: forces confined to bases cannot conduct the ground reconnaissance, HUMINT operations, and population engagement that generate the intelligence needed to assess threats. The balance between protection (reducing exposure) and collection (increasing exposure to gather information) is a tactical-level expression of the loss calculation that operates at every level of the discipline.
Related terms
- Counterintelligence — the defensive function most directly supporting force protection
- Indications and warning — the analytical function that provides threat warning
- Operational security — the complementary discipline of controlling what the adversary learns about friendly operations
- Intelligence preparation of the battlefield — the analytical process that identifies threats to friendly forces