Radioflash! Episode 23 – Listen Closely

A new book provides a valuable, and much-needed, introduction to the fundamental principles of communications intelligence. For some in the electronic warfare community, Communications Intelligence (COMINT) is the poor relation of its electronic intelligence counterpart. Nonetheless, COMINT has never been in more demand: The global growth of electronic communications, on and off the battlefield, make it a vital provider of intelligence to governments and militaries alike. Much of the COMINT world is shrouded in secrecy, the preserve of government spooks and their listening stations. Therefore, the work of the COMINT operative can be mysterious. Nonetheless, a new book entitled COMINT: All You Need to Know from electronic warfare expert Vito Pesare demystifies this fascinating discipline. It follows on from his work Electromagnetic Warfare: All You Need to Know, cowritten with Dr. Richard Rudd-Orthner that was published in 2024. In our latest Radioflash! podcast Mr. Pesare shares his motivations for writing this new work, the challenging aspects the book’s research and his thoughts on how the COMINT domain will evolve in the coming years. Copies of Mr. Pesare’s book can be ordered here.