Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group

The Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group is a formation of the British Army that commands the Army's miniature UAS, tactical UAS, counter-intelligence and reach back intelligence capabilities, the Specialist Group Military Intelligence and the Land Intelligence Fusion Centre.

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group
Tactical Recognition Flash
Active	2014–2024 (as 1st ISR Brigade) 2024–Present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Size	Group
Part of	Field Army Troops
Headquarters	Trenchard Lines, Upavon
Nickname(s)	ISR Gp
Website	https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/formations-divisions-brigades/field-army-troops/intelligence-surveillance-and-reconnaissance-group/

History

1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade

Under the Army 2020 programme, a larger emphasis was placed on cyber and specialist capabilities. As part of this reorganisation, the 1st Military Intelligence Brigade, the Royal Artillery's UAS regiments, Honourable Artillery Company and the two reserve Special Air Service (SAS) Regiments came under the command of the newly formed 1st Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade. The new brigade was stood up on 1 September 2014 at Upavon and placed under Force Troops Command.^[1][2]

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group

Under the Future Soldier programme announced on 25 November 2021, the brigade was reduced to a Colonel's Command, became the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group^[3] and transferred from the now disbanded 6th Division to Field Army Troops. The role of the group is to be to command the Army's miniature UAS, tactical UAS, counter-intelligence, and reach back intelligence capabilities, the Specialist Group Military Intelligence, and Land Intelligence Fusion Centre. It also commands the Land Image Intelligence Company, a pool of experts who deliver image analysis for all the Army's image collection platforms.^[3]

Structure

Before becoming ISR Group

Headquarters, 1st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Brigade,^[4][5] at Trenchard Lines, Upavon^[6]

• 14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), Royal Corps of Signals, at Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy^[7]
• 2nd Military Intelligence (Exploitation) Battalion, Intelligence Corps, at Trenchard Lines, Upavon^[8]
• 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps , in Hackney
• 4th Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps, at Ward Barracks, Bulford Camp^[8]
• 6th Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps , in Manchester – paired with 2 Military Intelligence Battalion
• 7th Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps , in Bristol – paired with 4 Military Intelligence Battalion
• 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, at Roberts Barracks, Larkhill Garrison (UAV operations, with Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk III)^[9]
• Specialist Group Military Intelligence, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage
• Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage
• Defence Cultural and Linguistic Support Unit, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage

On formation in 2014

Headquarters 1st Intelligence and Surveillance Brigade, at Trenchard Lines, Upavon^[10]

• 14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), Royal Corps of Signals, at Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy^[11][12]
• 1 Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps, at Bourlon Barracks, Catterick Garrison^[12]
• 2 Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps, at Trenchard Lines, Upavon^[12]
• 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps), in Hackney, London^[12] – paired with 1 MI Bn
• 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps, at Ward Barracks, Bulford Camp^[12]
• 5 Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps, in Edinburgh^[12] – paired with 1 MI Bn
• 6 Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps, in Manchester^[12] – paired with 2 MI Bn
• 7 Military Intelligence Battalion, Intelligence Corps, in Bristol^[12] – paired with 4 MI Bn
• 5th Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Marne Barracks, Catterick Garrison^[12]
• 32 Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Roberts Barracks, Larkhill Garrison^[12] (Mini UAS)^[13]
• 47 Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Horne Barracks, Larkhill Garrison^[12] (Tactical UAVs)
• 104 Regiment, Royal Artillery, in Newport^[12] (Mini UAS) – paired with 32 & 47 Regiments RA
• The Honourable Artillery Company, at Finsbury Barracks, Finsbury, London^[12]
• 21(Artists)(Reserve) SAS Regiment, at Albany Barracks, Regents Park, London^[14][15]
• 23(Reserve) SAS Regiment, at Kingstanding, Birmingham^[16][17]
• Specialist Group Military Intelligence, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage^[12]
• Defence Cultural Specialist Unit, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage^[12]
• Land Intelligence Fusion Centre, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage^[12]

References

1. "Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon MP at The Second International Cyber Symposium". RUSI. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
2. "1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade - British Army Website". 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
3. "Future Soldier Guide" (PDF). United Kingdom Parliamentary Publications. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
4. "1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
5. "Force Troops Command Handbook". British Army. Upavon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom: British Army. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
6. Briohny Williams (21 October 2020). "Exercise Wessex Seahawk: Army Trials Unmanned Aircraft In Cornwall". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
7. Rebecca Ricks (14 April 2019). "Signallers Complete 40-Mile Race Around Dartmoor". Forces Network. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
8. "Map/Maps showing the responsibilities of the British Army's Regional Commands across the United Kingdom" (PDF). What do they know?. 17 August 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
9. Ministry of Defence, List of units, formations, and equipment of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom. Ministry of Defence, London. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
10. Ministry, of Defence (July 2013). "Transforming the British Army an Update" (PDF). Parliamentary Publishments. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
11. Rebecca Ricks (14 April 2019). "Signallers Complete 40-Mile Race Around Dartmoor". Forces Network. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
12. "Map/Maps showing the responsibilities of the British Army's Regional Commands across the United Kingdom" (PDF). What do they know?. 17 August 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
13. Ministry of Defence, List of units, formations, and equipment of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom. Ministry of Defence, London. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
14. Army Briefing Note 120/14, NEWLY FORMED FORCE TROOPS COMMAND SPECIALIST BRIGADES, Quote . It commands all of the Army's Intelligence, Surveillance and EW assets, and is made up of units specifically from the former 1 MI Bde and 1 Arty Bde, as well as 14 Sig Regt, 21 and 23 SAS(R).
15. "Inside Camden's most secret site: Regent's Park Barracks". 3 January 2022.
16. Army Briefing Note 120/14, NEWLY FORMED FORCE TROOPS COMMAND SPECIALIST BRIGADES, Quote . It commands all of the Army's Intelligence, Surveillance and EW assets, and is made up of units specifically from the former 1 MI Bde and 1 Arty Bde, as well as 14 Sig Regt, 21 and 23 SAS(R).
17. "SAS to march through Birmingham to receive freedom of city". 26 December 2008.

External links

• 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade Website