Defence Signals Directorate
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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.
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).
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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
See also
External links
- Defence Signals Directorate official website (http://www.dsd.gov.au)
- Defense Signals Directorate directive (http://matthewgream.net/Professional/CryptoAndSecurity/#dsd_directive)