Joint Intelligence Support System (JISS)

 The Joint Intelligence Support System (JISS) is operated by the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), and accessed by a number of Defence and security agencies. The existence of the JISS became public following allegations by Lieutenant-Colonel Lance Collins, the former intelligence officer of the National Command Element in East Timor, that on December 20, 1999, access by his office to the JISS was intentionally turned off by DIO officers for several days, seriously damaging ADF operations under InterFET on the border with Indonesian West Timor.

Government sources

Knowledge System Equipment Acquisition Projects in Defence, Audit Report No.11 2000–2001 Department of Defence, Australian National Audit Office, 2000

"3.18 Command support systems provide data, such as logistics, readiness, operational and environmental data, for use in situational awareness, planning, decision-making and capability enhancement.

"3.19 In the past, the ADF’s command support systems, such as Army’s ongoing $165 million Battlefield Command Support System (BCSS - formerly known as AUSTACCS) and Air Force’s Air Command Support Systems (ACSS), were developed primarily for a single Service. Defence formed HQAST in 1995 and some projects took on a joint-Service form and title. Examples are the Joint Command Support System (JCSS), which now incorporates the ACSS as an integral phase and component, and the Joint Intelligence Support System (JISS)."

 2004 Defence Capability Plan, Department of Defence

"Project: Joint Intelligence Support System (JISS) [DEF 7013]
Description: High priority databases, data acquisition, fusion and transformation including upgraded IT infrastructure, networks and applications. Cost estimate: $50 million
Decisions: FY 2008/9, 2010/11
Roll out: 2010/12"

2007 Network Centric Warfare Roadmap,

JISS is part of the Future Defence Intelligence Concept, which "provides some high-level guidance on the integration of ideas and capabilities needed to form an effective sensor grid."

Analysis

Soldier claims Australians exposed in Timor, Tom Allard, Sydney Morning Herald, 25 July 2005

"A vital intelligence database shut down during the East Timor conflict was restored only on the condition army intelligence officers ceased reporting on Indonesian-backed militia activities in West Timor, Lieutenant-Colonel Lance Collins has revealed."a prototype and was AUSTEO, or Australian Eyes Only. Until then, all intelligence reporting had been on a shared network that could be accessed by key Australian allies, including the US. 'It meant Canberra could control what was reported.' he [Collins] said."

See also

• ADF - intelligence, Australian Forces Abroad
  
• SIPRNET, Australian Forces Abroad
• The Collins allegations, Australian Forces Abroad