The Military Sciences group includes experts in the traditional Air, Land and Maritime domains as well as Cyber, Influence Operations and Space. Our aim is to contribute to the nuance of UK public, media and policy discussions on defence by combining research with practical experience and contextual awareness. As part of this work, Military Sciences staff engage with military, defence industrial and governmental stakeholders from the operational to the senior leadership level in the UK and overseas.
The cornerstone of the Military Sciences group’s work is the Martial Power Programme which forms a conceptual framework aimed at providing UK decision makers with a deeper evidence base to feed into defence policy.
Focus
The Military Sciences research group aims to:
Sidharth Kaushal and Jack Watling
The US Marine Corps is reorganizing itself to confront China. Ensuring that it can hold ground and sustain its deployments without diverting naval resources will be a major challenge. Meanwhile US allies in other theatres must adjust to the USMC’s shift in focus
Tags: United States, Military Sciences, Martial Power Programme
Alexandra Stickings
Rendezvous and Proximity Operations in space add a layer of complexity to an already confused conversation concerning weapons in orbit. Consensus regarding their use and potential threat is needed to prevent miscalculations and unwanted escalation of tensions
Tags: Aerospace, Military Sciences, Martial Power Programme
Jack Watling
Turning to the military for assistance has become commonplace in the coronavirus pandemic. Governments should be careful how they do this.
Tags: Civil–Military Relations, Military Sciences, UK, UK Defence
Justin Bronk
If the reported intention to replace Germany’s ageing Tornado fleet with a mix of up to 90 Eurofighters, 30 Super Hornets and 15 Growlers is correct, the Luftwaffe will be getting the worst of all previously mooted outcomes
Tags: Air Power and Technology, Germany, Military Sciences
Armies are mobilising against the coronavirus
In The News, 23 March 2020 Tags: Military Sciences, UK, Land Forces, Land Operations
Elisabeth Braw
Of society and resilience: the scarcities of the past, and the panic buying of today.
Tags: Modern Deterrence, Germany, Military Sciences, UK, History, Resilience, Europe
Jack Watling
Turning to the military for assistance has become commonplace in the coronavirus pandemic. Governments should be careful how they do this.
Civil–Military Relations, Military Sciences, UK, UK Defence
Elisabeth Braw
Of society and resilience: the scarcities of the past, and the panic buying of today.
Modern Deterrence, Germany, Military Sciences, UK, History, Resilience, Europe
Jack Watling
Iran is striking back for the killing of one of its top commanders. A real test of US resolve in the Middle East is beginning.
United States, US Defence Policy, Iran, Military Sciences, Global Security Issues
Elisabeth Braw
EU member states displayed little solidarity in the current crisis, but EU institutions fared better.
Modern Deterrence, European Union, Military Sciences, Resilience, Europe
Jack Watling
The UK government must provide unambiguous political guidance as it undertakes the most significant appraisal of the country’s defence posture since the start of this century.
Armed Forces, Defence Spending, Military Sciences, UK, National Security, UK Defence
Elisabeth Braw
Through national resilience training, young people could play a valuable role in crisis scenarios.
Civil–Military Relations, Modern Deterrence, Occasional Papers, Military Sciences, UK, National Security, Resilience
Justin Bronk
This Occasional Paper provides an assessment of technological and strategic trends in Russian and Chinese integrated air defence systems.
Aerospace, Air Power and Technology, China, Occasional Papers, Russia, Military Sciences, Martial Power Programme
Oliver Major
A report of the Modern Deterrence Autumn 2019 conference organised by RUSI's Modern Deterrence project in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
Modern Deterrence, Conference Reports, Military Sciences, National Security
Jack Watling
This paper outlines critical trends in the development of next-generation fires systems and the implications of this future battlefield for the UK’s ground forces.
Armed Forces, Occasional Papers, Equipment and Acquisitions, Military Sciences, UK, Land Forces, UK Defence
Sidharth Kaushal and Jack Watling
This paper outlines the role that littoral areas will have in the Future Operating Environment and the strategic requirements that will drive the development of the littoral strike concept and the...
Armed Forces, Occasional Papers, Equipment and Acquisitions, Global Strategy and Commitments, Military Sciences, Defence Policy, UK, Land Forces, Maritime Forces, UK Defence, Europe
General Sir Gordon Messenger and Surevine founder and CEO Stuart Murdoch in conversation with Clifford Chance counsel Josh Fitzhugh.
Modern Deterrence, Military Sciences
This annual conference, jointly organised by the United Nations Association – UK, UNA-Westminster and RUSI, is the UK’s most authoritative public review of UN peacekeeping activities.
Military Sciences
This conference will seek to re-examine what the optimal survivability mix might look like in the late 2020s, 2030s, in light of current trends of both combat air systems design and emerging...
Air Power Conference 2016: Inspiration and Innovation, Military Sciences
The conference, the first of its kind, featured senior executives and government officials in charge of total defence and civil protection. It aimed to identify practical steps that can be taken to...
Modern Deterrence, Military Sciences, Defence Policy
General Stephen J. Townsend, commander of the US Army Training and Doctrinal Command will deliver the 72nd Annual Kermit Roosevelt Lecture.
United States, Military Sciences, UK
Dr Jack Watling, Research Fellow at RUSI, discusses what the new agenda might be for the new Defence Secretary, Penny Mordaunt.
Tags: Military Sciences, UK, UK Defence
Justin Bronk, RUSI's Research Fellow for Airpower and Technology reflects on the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force, established on 1 April 1918.
Tags: Aerospace, Military Sciences
Justin Bronk, Research Fellow at RUSI assesses the US airstrike against a Syrian airbase following the Syrian government's chemical attack in the Idlib province.
Tags: Aerospace, Military Sciences, Syria
Ewan Lawson, Senior Research Fellow examines the debate around WhatsApp encryption and whether the app should be more freely available to law enforcement.
Tags: UK Counter-terrorism, Military Sciences, UK, Terrorism
Risk Assessing the Pandemic
Europe and the Coronavirus Pandemic in the Middle East
Defence Sector Corruption, an Underestimated Foe in Times of Crisis