The Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) is Australia's signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection agency. Based in Canberra, it operates monitoring facilities at Kojarena, near Geraldton in Western Australia and at Shoal Bay, Northern Territory, which are believed to be part of the ECHELON system. It may also play a role in Pine Gap. SIGINT stands for SIGnals INTelligence, which is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether by radio interception or other means. ... Two of Canberras best-known landmarks, Parliament House and (foreground) Old Parliament House. ... Geraldton is a town in Western Australia located 424 km north of Perth. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... Motto: None Nickname: ? Other Australian states and territories Capital Darwin Government Administrator Chief Minister Const. ... Antenna 4 (through the wire) in former Echelon intelligence gathering station at Silvermine, Cape Peninsula ECHELON is thought to be the largest Signals intelligence and analysis network for intercepting electronic communications in history. ... Pine Gap is the commonly used name for a satellite tracking station near the city of Alice Springs in the heart of Australia that is owned and operated by the U.S. It consists of a large computer complex with eight radomes protecting antennae, and has over 800 employees. ...

Under the 1948 UKUSA agreement, DSD's intelligence is shared with the United States National Security Agency (NSA), the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the Canadian Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and the New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... The UKUSA Community is an alliance of English-speaking nations for the purpose of gathering intelligence via signals intelligence. ... The National Security Agency / Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) is a United States government agency responsible for both the collection and analysis of message communications, and for the security of government communications against similar agencies elsewhere. ... The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) — previously named the Government Code and Cipher School (GC&CS) — is the main British intelligence service providing signals intelligence (SIGINT). ... The CSE badge The Communications Security Establishment or CSE is an intelligence agency of the Canadian government, charged with the duty of keeping track of foreign signals intelligence. ... The Waihopai Valley Government Communications Security Bureau base. ...

Facilities

The DSD operates at least two receiving stations: the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station (ADSCS), located at Kojarena, near Geraldton in Western Australia, and the Shoal Bay Receiving Station, located at Shoal Bay, Northern Territory. These stations contribute signals intelligence for many Australian Government bodies, as well as the wider UKUSA partners. The DSD also maintains a strong workforce at Pine Gap in central Australia.

In addition, many embassies and overseas missions also provide a return flow of signals intelligence. The most prevalent sources are in Malaysia and Indonesia, targeting mainly high level politicians and defence personnel.

Names

The Directorate has operated under a number of different names since its founding:

• 1947 - Defence Signals Bureau established within the Department of Defence
• 1949 - Changes name to Defence Signals Branch
• 1964 - Changes name to Defence Signals Division
• 1978 - Changes name to Defence Signals Directorate

1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ...

See also

• Espionage
• Echelon

Other Countries Espionage is the practice of obtaining secrets (spying) from rivals or enemies for military, political, or economic advantage. ... Antenna 4 (through the wire) in former Echelon intelligence gathering station at Silvermine, Cape Peninsula ECHELON is thought to be the largest Signals intelligence and analysis network for intercepting electronic communications in history. ...

• NSA United States
• GCHQ UK
• Communications Security Establishment Canada

NSA can stand for: National Security Agency of the USA The British Librarys National Sound Archive This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) (previously named the Government Code and Cipher School (GC&CS)) is the main British intelligence service providing signals intelligence (SIGINT). ... The CSE badge The Communications Security Establishment or CSE is an intelligence agency of the Canadian government, charged with the duty of keeping track of foreign signals intelligence. ...

External links

• Defence Signals Directorate official website
• Defense Signals Directorate directive