Control Systems
SCI is divided into control systems, which are further subdivided into compartments and sub-compartments. These systems and compartments are usually identified by a classified codeword. Several such codewords have been declassified. The following SCI control systems, with their abbreviations and compartments, are known:
- Special Intelligence
- Special Intelligence (so in the CAPCO manual, but always SI in document markings) is the control system covering communications intelligence. Special Intelligence is the UKUSA term for communications intercepts. The previous title for this control system was COMINT, but this was deprecated in 2011. Several now-retired codewords protected SI compartments based on their sensitivity, generally referred to as Top Secret Codeword (TSC) and Secret Codeword (SC). These codewords were UMBRA for the most sensitive material, SPOKE for less sensitive material, and MORAY for the least sensitive SI that required codeword protection. (These codewords were attached directly to the classification without reference to COMINT or SI, e.g. Top Secret UMBRA.) Another retired flag, ECI, was a type indicator used to group compartments of "Exceptionally Controlled Information." The only acknowledged SI compartments in current use are SI-GAMMA (SI-G) and SI-ABC (SI-ABC), in which ABC stands for three alphabetic characters. There is a GAMMA subcompartment identified by four alphanumeric characters.
- TALENT KEYHOLE
- TK covers space-based IMINT, SIGINT, and MASINT collection platforms; related processing and analysis techniques; and research, design, and operation of these platforms (but see Reserve below). The original TALENT compartment was created in the mid-1950s for the U-2. In 1960, it was broadened to cover all national aerial reconnaissance and the KEYHOLE compartment was created for satellite intelligence. TALENT KEYHOLE is now a top-level control system; KEYHOLE is no longer a distinct compartment. Known compartments include RUFF (IMINT satellites), ZARF (ELINT satellites), and CHESS (U-2).
- HCS
- HCS is the HUMINT Control System. This system was simply designated "HUMINT" until confusion arose between collateral HUMINT and the control system. The current nomenclature was chosen to eliminate the ambiguity.
- KLONDIKE
- KDK protects sensitive geospatial intelligence.
- RESERVE
- RSV is the control system for National Reconnaissance Office compartments protecting new sources and methods during the research, development, and acquisition process.
- BYEMAN
- BYE is a retired control system covering certain overhead collection systems, including CORONA and OXCART. Most BYE content was transferred to TK. BYE Special Handling content was transferred to Reserve.
Read more about this topic: Sensitive Compartmented Information
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