Military Intelligence Services
Unified UK defence intelligence organisation established in December 2025
| Military Intelligence Services | |
| Abbreviation | MIS |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Formation | |
| Predecessor | |
| Purpose | |
| Headquarters | RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire |
| Parent organization | |
The Military Intelligence Services (MIS) is the unified military intelligence organisation of the United Kingdom, established in December 2025.[1]
It consolidates intelligence units from the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, UK Space Command and Permanent Joint Headquarters into a single organisation for the first time, operating under Cyber and Specialist Operations Command and the Chief of Defence Intelligence.[1][2]
The MIS was created following recommendations in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review to improve efficiency, speed and threat anticipation amid rising hostile activity.[1]
It was launched on 12 December 2025 at RAF Wyton by Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns MP and Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones MP, alongside the new Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit.[1][3]
Official view
Part of Defence Intelligence.
- Military Intelligence Services (MIS) brings together Defence’s expert intelligence capabilities under a single enterprise, as directed by the Strategic Defence Review.
- MIS bring together intelligence units from the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, UK Space Command, and Permanent Joint Headquarters, ensuring they operate as one system.
- Under the command of the Cyber and Specialist Command, and the leadership of the Chief of Defence Intelligence, this will give Defence faster and clearer warnings of threats to our forces and the public, allowing the UK to use data from land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace in real time, sharpening the nation’s ability to deter adversaries before they act.
- It will be supported by the new Defence Intelligence Academy who offer world-class training in key intelligence disciplines such as cyber, space and geospatial analysis.
Role
United Kingdom’s Military Intelligence Services (MIS) within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) exists to integrate intelligence collection, assessment, targeting and exploitation across Defence, ensuring coherence and operational effectiveness. It is led by the Chief of Defence Intelligence underpinned by the Defence Intelligence Charter.
MIS shall obtain and provide assured information relating to the capabilities, intentions or actions of states, organisations and/or individuals with respect to defence-related threats, and perform other tasks relating to the capabilities, intentions or actions of such states, organisations and/or individuals, including command and delivery of intelligence operations, where this is in the interest of the UK’s defence and national security.
What we do
MIS’ disciplines include:
- Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) - GEOINT refers to the analysis and exploitation of geospatial information and imagery for intelligence purposes. It involves gathering, analysing and interpreting data from various sources such as satellite imagery, aerial photography, maps, charts and geographic information systems. This enables analysts and decision-makers to understand and visualise the physical and cultural features of a location, the relationship between different elements within that space, and the implications of all these aspects together. It describes the physical environment and includes data from the aeronautical, geographic, hydrographic, oceanographic and meteorological disciplines. GEOINT includes imagery intelligence (IMINT) reports, which may be provided as machine-readable data or in more traditional formats (paper or digital maps and charts) and digital geospatial information, which may be provided as web services.
- Imagery intelligence (IMINT) is defined as: intelligence derived from imagery acquired from sensors that can be ground-based, seaborne or carried by air or space platforms. IMINT can be both still imagery or full motion video, across various electromagnetic bands, including visible light and infrared. IMINT can be supported by, as well as support, other intelligence collection disciplines, thereby increasing the level of confidence in the resulting product.
- National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) is the national centre and authority for UK GEOINT delivery. NCGI’s mission is to provide impactful geospatial intelligence as well as open source intelligence that enhances defence’s ability to understand and plan, target and navigate.
- Open source intelligence (OSINT) - OSINT is the process of collecting, processing, exploiting, and disseminating publicly available information (PAI). For example, material on social media, websites, news articles, and other publicly accessible data. Information is analysed to support intelligence functions including the production of dedicated OSINT products. Individuals conducting research using PAI specifically for intelligence purposes would be conducting OSINT. PAI is described as any information where there is a reasonable basis to believe that it is lawfully made available to the general public.
- Measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) - MASINT is intelligence derived from the scientific and technical analysis of data obtained from sensing instruments for the purpose of identifying any distinctive features associated with the source, emitter or sender, to facilitate the latter’s measurement and identification.
- Signals intelligence (SIGINT) - SIGINT is intelligence derived from electromagnetic signals or emissions It is the generic term used to describe communications intelligence (COMINT) and electromagnetic intelligence (ELINT) when there is no requirement to differentiate between these two types of intelligence, or to represent their fusion.
- Human intelligence (HUMINT) - Human intelligence (HUMINT) is intelligence derived from information collected by human operators and primarily provided by human sources. It is achieved through observing or directly communicating with people. It encompasses debriefing, source handling, tactical questioning, interrogation, military intelligence liaison, and covert passive surveillance, which are all conducted by trained personnel.
- Counter-intelligence - Counter-intelligence focuses on the understanding of terrorism, espionage, sabotage, subversion and organised crime threats and vectors, and contests the operating space through proactive and reactive counter-intelligence activities. It entails collection of information, analysis and investigation of both state and non-state actors’ intelligence methods, capabilities and activities. It also contributes to security by depriving adversaries of accurate or detailed knowledge of the disposition and capabilities of friendly forces, whether through intelligence collection activities or unauthorised disclosure.
- All-source intelligence assessment - Within the UK intelligence community, MIS provide high-level all-source intelligence assessment as a unique analytical discipline. Intelligence assessment adds an additional layer of judgement to existing analysis from across the single intelligence environment, aimed at supporting the decision-making of the highest-level customers in government. The standards for all-source intelligence assessment are set by the Professional Head of Intelligence Assessment (PHIA) of the Cabinet Office.
- MIS and the UK intelligence agencies - MIS works in close partnership with other UK intelligence agencies, including GCHQ, MI5 and SIS. Most notably to provide intelligence products for policy makers in the Ministry of Defence and UK Government. [4]
The Military Intelligence Services (MIS) is the unified military intelligence organisation of the United Kingdom, established in December 2025.[1]
It consolidates intelligence units from the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, UK Space Command and Permanent Joint Headquarters into a single organisation for the first time, operating under Cyber and Specialist Operations Command and the Chief of Defence Intelligence.[1][2]
The MIS was created following recommendations in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review to improve efficiency, speed and threat anticipation amid rising hostile activity.[1]
It was launched on 12 December 2025 at RAF Wyton by Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns MP and Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones MP, alongside the new Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit.[1][3]
Leadership
The leadership of the Military Intelligence Services (MIS) is headed by the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), who directs the unified organisation.[5]
As of May 2026 the current CDI is Adrian Bird CB.[5] He is scheduled to be succeeded in summer 2026 by Lieutenant General Matthew Jones OBE.[5]
The MIS sits under Cyber and Specialist Operations Command, commanded by General Sir Rob Magowan KCB CBE since March 2026.[6]
Current leadership (May 2026)
- Chief of Defence Intelligence (Head of MIS): Adrian Bird CB (until summer 2026)
- Designate Chief of Defence Intelligence (summer 2026): Lieutenant General Matthew Jones OBE
- Commander, Cyber and Specialist Operations Command: General Sir Rob Magowan KCB CBE
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Ministry of Defence, UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge GOV.UK, 12 December 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tabby Wilson, MoD to unify all intelligence units under single command BBC News, 11 December 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Defence Online, UK Launches New Military Intelligence Services Defence Online, 16 December 2025.
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/military-intelligence-services
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defences-next-top-intelligence-officer-appointed
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lieutenant-general-sir-rob-magowan-appointed-new-commander-of-cyber-specialist-operations-command