IntroductionTechnical intelligence gathering technology since the end of World War II has been expanded to meet the needs of national policymakers in a growing and diversifying geopolitical environment. The collection of signals intelligence (SIGINT) is growing means filling intelligence gaps that meet the needs of policymakers. Starting in the 1960s, the United States and Great Britain were the main governments with such a capability (Streetly 2010). Today, many Asian nations maintain an airborne SIGINT collection capability. In general terms, the SIGINT aerial collection platforms used by Asian countries will be discussed below. Specifically, however, this writing will briefly discuss current and pre-World War II Japanese SIGINT organizations. America and Asia Many countries in Asia have received American airborne SIGINT platforms. Countries include, for example, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Japan. One of America's closest allies, South Korea, has received four, according to the Janes International Review, "...Hawker 800SIG COMINT and ELINT aircraft...", and has worked with Taiwan to develop an air system joint (Streetly 2010). In Japan, the main airborne platforms in use are EP-3 and YS-11EB. The popularity of airborne SIGINT capability by Asian countries lies in geography. Unlike Europe, many nations in Asia are island countries or surrounded by large areas of the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, to maintain the freedom of navigation that supports their collective export-driven economies, access via aerial platforms provides timely information. Japan and SIGINT 1940s Historically and up to this point, the class has focused largely on US and British SIGINT capabilities. However, before World War II the Japanese m...... middle of paper ......http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/05679320412331340347(accessed November 19, 2013).Kotani, Ken. 2005. “Could Japan Read Allied Signal Traffic? The violation of the Japanese code and the advance into French Indochina, September 1940. Intelligence and national security. 20:2, 304-320. This article was downloaded from: [American Public University System]. (accessed 19 November 2013). Oros, Andrew L. 2002. “Japan's Growing Intelligence Capability.” International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. 15:1, 1-25. This article was downloaded from: [American Public University System]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/088506002753412856 (accessed November 19, 2013). Streetly, Martin. 2010. “The New Face of Airborne SIGINT: Global, Civilian, and Real-Time.” Jane's International Defense Review. This article was downloaded from: [American Public University System]. (accessed November 19, 2013).