Foreign Technology Division

The Foreign Technology Division (FTD) was a specialized unit of the United States Air Force, established in 1961 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Its primary mission was to collect, analyze, and exploit foreign aerospace technology, particularly that of the Soviet Union and other adversaries, during the Cold War. FTD played a critical role in intelligence gathering, reverse engineering, and technological assessments, notably examining captured MiG fighter jets and other foreign materiel. In 1991, the unit was re-designated as the National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC), continuing its legacy of technological intelligence within the Air Force.