480th ISR Wing

Mission
The 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the Air Force leader in globally-networked ISR operations. The Wing's comprehensive set of ISR capabilities include Lead Wing designation for the AF Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS), as well as national cryptologic, information technology, tactical analysis, Combined Forces Air Component Commander (CFACC)-support, and national-to-tactical signals intelligence (SIGINT) integration. The Wing is global in nature and spans the full spectrum of ISR operations - humanitarian assistance to major theater conflict - leveraging federated mission partners to synchronize timely, relevant intelligence. Using a problem-centric, sensor-agnostic approach, the Wing provides exploitation-fueled analysis in support of priority theater intelligence problems by leveraging the best available data and mastering analytic tradecraft to tackle complex problem sets. This is accomplished while continuing to provide near-real time support for global ISR missions in support of Major Commands and Combined/Joint Force Air Component Commanders (C/JFACCs) theater operations.

History
The 480th ISR Wing has a remarkable history dating back to 1943 when it was activated as the 480th Anti-Submarine Group. The 480th Anti-Submarine Group conducted combat air patrols off the coast of Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Bay of Biscay. In seven months of operations, the Army Air Force credited the unit with the destruction of three German U-boats. The Army awarded the group with the Distinguished Unit Citation and inactivated the unit in 1944. During the Korean War, the Air Force activated the 580th Air Resupply and Communications Wing at Mount Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The unit conducted psychological warfare operations and deployed to Wheelus Air Base, Libya in 1952. The Air Force inactivated this unit in 1953. In 1985, the Air Force consolidated the 480th Anti-Submarine Group with the 580th Air Resupply and Communications Wing forming the 480th Special Operations Wing. Although committed to the special operations mission, the unit was never activated. In October 2003, the Air Force re-designated the 480th Special Operations Wing as the 480th Intelligence Wing and activated the new unit on December 1, 2003. The wing was officially re-designated as the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing on January 1, 2009.

Organization
 Presently, the 480 ISR Wing is organized into six subordinate ISR groups and twenty-three active duty squadrons. With over 6000 warrior airmen, the organization serves as the largest ISR wing in the Air Force. The six ISR groups assigned to the 480 ISR Wing include: the 480 ISR Group, 497 ISR Group, 548 ISR Group, 692 ISR Group, 693 ISR Group, and the 694 ISR Group. In addition, the wing has twenty-six Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units standing side-by-side with the active duty component as it engages in ISR operations around the globe: 117 Intelligence Squadron, Ala.; 123 IS, Ark.; 50 IS and 38 IS (AFRC), 222 Intelligence Support Squadron, 222 OSS and 234 IS, Calif.; 139 IS,  Ga.; 201 IS, Hawaii; 181 Intel Group, 181 ISS, 137 IS and 181 OSS, Ind.; 184 Intel Group, 161 IS, 184 ISS and 184 OSS, Kan.; 102 Intel Group, 101 IS, 102 ISS and 102 OSS, Mass.; 152 IS, Nev.; 169 IS, Utah; 718 IS and 63 IS (AFRC) and 192 IS, Va.

The 480 ISR Group, headquartered at Fort Gordon, Ga., leverages the language and target expertise of personnel to support theatre intelligence requirements, in addition to conducting real-time tactical and national intelligence collection, exploitation, analysis and reporting. The Group provides cryptologic products and services to war fighters and decision makers operating in, or concerned with, the CENTCOM, EUCOM, and AFRICOM areas of responsibility (AOR). The Group also conducts Air Force National Tactical Integration and Tactics Analysis Studies Element missions for the 609th Air and Space Operations Center and is the Air Force component of the National Security Agency-Central Security Service-Ga. The Group consists of three active duty squadrons: 3 IS; 31 IS, and 451 IS all located at Fort Gordon, Ga. The Group also has an ANG Classic Associate Unit, the 139 IS, operationally imbedded.
 
The 497 ISR Group (DGS-1), headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., provides a multi-intelligence (multi-INT), problem-centric approach to analysis and exploitation in support of the key problem sets of Joint and Coalition forces and other designated government agencies as the regional lead for the AFCENT AOR. The Group consists of four active duty squadrons: 30 IS; 10 IS; 45 IS; and 497 OSS. Additionally, there are Classic Associate Units consisting of one Virginia Air National Guard unit, 192 IS, and two Air Force Reserve units, the 718 IS and 63 IS, supporting the total force integration of the Wing and Group combat ISR operations.
 
The 548 ISR Group (DGS-2), headquartered at Beale AFB, Calif., provides a multi-INT, problem-centric approach to analysis and exploitation in support of the key problem sets of Joint and Coalition forces and other designated government agencies as the regional lead for the AFNORTH/AFSOUTH AORs. The Group also processes, exploits and disseminates broad area, synoptic, high-resolution imagery collected by the U-2 Optical Bar Camera for combatant commanders and war fighting forces worldwide. The Group consists of five active duty squadrons and one detachment: 9 IS; 13 IS; 48 IS; 548 OSS, and Detachment 1, 548 ISR GP, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (supports 612 AOC). Additionally there are Classic Associate Units consisting of three California Air National Guard units: 234 IS; 222 ISS; 222 OSS, and two Air Force Reserve Units, 50 IS and 38 IS, supporting operations at Beale AFB, Calif.
 
The 692 ISR Group (DGS-5), headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, provides a multi-INT, problem-centric approach to analysis and exploitation in support of the key problem sets of Joint and Coalition forces and other designated government agencies as the regional lead for the PACAF AOR. The Group also is the Air Force component of the National Security Agency-Central Security Service-Hawaii and provides AF National Tactical Integration to 613 Air and Space Operations Center.  The Group consists of four active duty squadrons: 8 IS; 324 IS; 392 IS; 792 ISS, and one Air National Guard Squadron, the 201 IS (Hawaii ANG).
 
The 693 ISR Group (DGS-4), headquartered at Ramstein AB, Germany, provides a multi-INT, problem-centric approach to analysis and exploitation in support of the key problem sets of Joint and Coalition forces and other designated government agencies as the regional lead for the USAFE/AFAFRICA AORs. The Group also conducts Air Force National Tactical Integration and Tactics Analysis Studies Element missions for the 603rd Air and Space Operations Center. The Group consists of five squadrons: 450 IS; 24 IS; 402 IS; 693 ISS, all located at Ramstein AB, Germany, and 485 IS at Mainz-Kastel, Germany, which also has four Operating Locations.
 
The 694 ISR Group (DGS-3), headquartered at Osan AB, Republic of Korea, provides a multi-INT, problem-centric approach to analysis and exploitation in support of the key problem sets of Joint and Coalition forces and other designated government agencies during armistice, crisis and wartime to meet Component, Combatant Commander and national requirements. As the regional lead for the 7 AF AOR, the 694 ISRG establishes and maintains habitual relationships with theater intelligence organizations. The Group also conducts Air Force National Tactical Integration, Tactics Analysis Studies Element and real-time threat warning missions for the 607th Air and Space Operations Center and conducts reporting of intelligence through global networks serving the intelligence community. The Group consists of three active duty squadrons: 6 IS; 303 IS, which has two Operating Locations; and 694 ISS, all located at Osan Air Base.
 
(Current as of April 2021)