NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

Description

The NRO is a Department of Defense agency that runs the US government’s spy satellites. It provides space-based capability to numerous intelligence agencies including the NSA, NGA, and the CIA. With an annual budget of over 15 billion, the NRO is by far the most expensive US intelligence agency. In 2008 it declassified five of its mission ground stations including Pine Gap in Australia and Menwith Hill in the UK.

PRIMAL Assessment

At any point in time NRO assets are watching or listening to targets of US national interest. PRIMAL does not have direct access to these military satellites, however through influencing personnel who work within the US intelligence community, it could leverage some NRO capabilities if required.