Distribution

When information has been reviewed and correlated with data from other available sources, it is called finished intelligence, which is disseminated directly to the same policymakers whose initial needs generated the intelligence requirements. Finished intelligence is hand-carried to the President and key national security advisers on a daily basis. The policymakers then make decisions based on this information. These decisions may lead to requests for further examination, thus triggering the intelligence cycle one more time.

The Five Categories of Finished Intelligence:

Current Intelligence

Addresses day-to-day events. It details new developments and related background in order to assess their significance, warn of their near-term consequences, and signal potentially dangerous situations in the near future.

Estimative Intelligence

Looks forward to assess potential developments that could affect US national security. By discussing the implications of a range of possible outcomes and alternative scenarios, estimative intelligence helps policymakers think strategically about long-term threats.

Warning Intelligence

Sounds an alarm or gives notice to policymakers. It suggests urgency and implies the potential need to respond with policy action. Warning intelligence includes identifying or forecasting events that could cause the engagement of US military forces, or those that would have a sudden and detrimental effect on US foreign policy concerns such as coups, third-party wars, or refugee situations. Warning analysis involves exploring alternative futures and low probability/high impact scenarios.

Research Intelligence

Research supports both current and estimative intelligence and is divided into two specialized subcategories:

Basic intelligence
Primarily consists of the structured collection of geographic, demographic, social, military, and political data on foreign countries
Intelligence for operational support
Tailored, focused, and rapidly produced intelligence for planners and operators that incorporates all types of intelligence production-current, estimative, warning, research, and scientific and technical.

Scientific and Technical Intelligence

Includes an examination of the technical development, characteristics, performance, and capabilities of foreign technologies including weapon systems or subsystems. This covers a complete spectrum of sciences, technologies, weapon systems, and integrated operations.