HomeAboutOrganizationMSIC
The Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC) provides our customers - war fighters, weapons developers, policy makers, and homeland security - intelligence assessments on foreign weapons systems. We use scientific and technical methods to evaluate intelligence data determine the characteristics, performance, operations, and vulnerabilities of foreign weapons systems.
We are a DoD center of excellence, focusing on analysis and assessment of foreign air and missile defense systems, ballistic missiles, anti-tank guided missiles, anti-satellite missile systems, and directed energy weapons. We are dedicated to developing intelligence assessments that provide strategic and tactical advantages to U.S. and allied forces in all current and future conflicts.
All-source analysts at MSIC come from a variety of engineering and scientific backgrounds, which primarily include aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, and physics. As part of the Analysis Career Field, the majority of analytic positions at MSIC are assigned to the Scientific and Technical Intelligence Career Specialty.
OIF
MSIC's scientific and technical intelligence (S&TI) analysis continues to be vital to the security of our nation in modern conflicts in which U.S. military strategy requires both dominance of foreign air defense systems and the ability to counter ballistic missiles that threaten ground forces and civilian populations.
The beginnings of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center can be traced back to the development of missiles by the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal, AL, under the leadership of Dr. Werhner Von Braun, MG John B. Medaris, and a team of German scientists. In June 1956, the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency established a special security office known as the Technical Intelligence Division, whose mission was to analyze and report on foreign missile-related activities.

In 1962, this division was renamed the Missile Intelligence Office (MIO). This group, initially staffed with engineers from Redstone and intelligence analysts from around the country, established its presence early when chosen by the Central Intelligence Agency to lead the technical assessment team during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In 1967, the DIA identified MSIC as one of six national Scientific and Technical Intelligence (S&TI) production centers. From 1970-1985, the organization was known as the Missile Intelligence Agency. The name changed to the Missile and Space Intelligence Center in 1985 when MSIC moved from the Army's Research and Development Community to the Intelligence Community as part of the Army Intelligence Agency. In 1992, Congressional legislation moved MSIC to the DIA.
Cuba Map    SA-2 in Parade     HH Radar     FME in Field
The Cold War strategy of Mutually Assured Destruction relied heavily on MSIC's analysis to defeat Soviet air defenses and antiballistic missile systems.

From the U.S. strike against Libya, El Dorado Canyon, to Desert Shield/Storm, to Operation Enduring Freedom, to Operation Iraqi Freedom, to ongoing global crises, MSIC employees have deployed directly in theater to provide real-time weapon expertise to aircrews and intelligence support personnel for operational planning.
MSIC is located on the Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, Alabama. MSIC houses military and civilian employees and provides enough work space to accommodate missile systems for hands-on and virtual testing and evaluations. Dedicated in December 1999, the Shelby Center also provides a snack bar, fitness Center, and walking trails as a service to our employees.
       

MSIC on 60 Minutes

CBS News “60 Minutes” showcased ballistic missile analysis by DIA’s Missile and Space Intelligence Center as part of a 13-minute segment on North Korean missile capabilities. Click here to read full article...




In this “Beyond the Beltway” episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at DIA’s Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC), located in Huntsville, Ala. An integral part of DIA’s Directorate for Analysis, MSIC provides key intelligence support to our nation’s warfighters, policymakers and weapons developers. The “Beyond the Beltway” series highlights the numerous contributions of DIA teams working outside the Washington, D.C., area.
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CNN Features DIA's Missile & Space Intelligence Center in Huntsville, AL. In this segment, CNN highlights the danger posed by threat weapon systems that are analyzed by DIA's Missile and Space Intelligence Center.
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Missile and Space Intelligence Center
4545 Fowler Road
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898

General Driving Directions

From I-565, take Research Park Boulevard (Alabama Highway 255) south. Coming from the West, this would be Exit 14. Coming from the East, it would be exit 14A. 

Research Park Boulevard becomes "Rideout Road" as you enter Redstone Arsenal. 

Proceed south on Rideout Road through Gate 9 until you reach the Toftoy Thruway. Exit left onto the Toftoy Thruway, following it until it dead ends. Take a right onto Fowler Road. Take the first right to enter the Richard C. Shelby Center for Missile Intelligence. 

If you do not have the proper credentials to enter Redstone Arsenal (see Redstone Access below), you must stop at the Arsenal Visitor Center at Gate 9 (I-565 & Rideout Road). It will be on your right as you approach Gate 9.

Redstone Arsenal Access 

Visitors WITH a CAC or military ID may enter any Redstone gate without prior notification. 

Visitors WITHOUT a CAC or military ID must be authorized in advance by MSIC Security. To facilitate that, visitors must provide their MSIC POC with full name, SSN, date(s) of visit, company name, work phone number and employment status (Military, Government Civilian, or Contractor). The MSIC POC must provide this information to MSIC Security at least 48 hours prior to the visit in order for Arsenal access to be authorized. Once authorization has been established as described above, visitors may obtain badges for Arsenal access at the Redstone Arsenal Visitor Centers located at Gate 9 - Rideout Road 

More information about Redstone Arsenal can be obtained at Redstone Arsenal.