Defence Signals Directorate - Overview

Overview

According to its website, DSD has two principal functions:

• to collect and disseminate foreign signals intelligence;
• to provide information security products and services to the Australian Government and its Defence Force.

Based in Canberra, at the Defence Headquarters at Russell Offices it operates monitoring facilities at Kojarena, Western Australia and at Shoal Bay, Northern Territory, which are believed to be part of the ECHELON system. It may also play a role in Pine Gap.

Under the 1948 UKUSA agreement, DSD's intelligence is shared with its foreign partner agencies:

• National Security Agency (NSA) – United States
• Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) – United Kingdom
• Communications Security Establishment (CSE) – Canada
• Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) – New Zealand

Electronic warfare operators in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals work closely with the Defence Signals Directorate. 7 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) at Borneo Barracks, Cabarlah, Queensland is associated with DSD.