Military Sciences

We provide thought leadership on the character of conflict and the use of armed forces in the 21st century by engaging with a wide range of research topics, from strategic concepts to technical platforms.


The Military Sciences research group carries out cutting-edge research to deliver intellectual challenge and thought leadership on military and defence matters. We take a long-term perspective, grounded in a rigorous historical evidence base and an examination of the conduct of adversaries and contemporary conflict, in order to shape defence policies.

We draw on considerable in-house expertise in the air, land, maritime, cyber and space domains, and on an unrivalled network of connections and affiliations in conflict zones, to provide real-time contemporary lessons. This enables us to combine our research with practical experience and contextual awareness. As part of this work, our staff engage with military, defence industrial and governmental stakeholders from the operational to the senior leadership level, in the UK and overseas.

The group’s research portfolio includes four primary lines of activity:

  • Competition: What it means to be in an era of great power competition, especially for medium powers whose impact is typically magnified in alliances.
  • Adversaries: What our adversaries and potential adversaries are doing, and how competitive our approaches to conflict are.
  • Conflict: How technology and concepts are changing the character of conflict.
  • Institutions: How well-equipped government, defence industrial and defence institutions are to deliver the armed forces needed to prevail today and in the future.

Upcoming conferences


27 March 2024 - RUSI Combat Air Conference

Bringing the air power community together for an essential discussion and debate on how NATO countries can meet their defence and deterrence needs. Conference ticket prices from £175 + VAT, with member discounts and military concessions available.

18 April 2024 - Air and Missile Defence Conference

Examining the requirements needed to deliver credible integrated air and missile defence for homelands and fielded forces. Conference ticket prices from £175 + VAT, with member discounts and military concessions available. Early bird discount of 10% available until 11 March.

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Programmes

View the research programmes and projects by the Military Science research group

Multimedia


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Latest publications


    Fellows


    Air Marshal Greg Bagwell CB CBE

    Distinguished Fellow

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    General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Gill Bennett OBE

    Senior Associate Fellow; Former Chief Historian, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

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    Richard Bennett

    Associate Fellow - Expert in utilising archaeology and heritage to promote wellbeing

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    Dr Bleddyn Bowen

    Associate Fellow

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    Brigadier (Ret’d) Robbie Boyd OBE

    Associate Fellow

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    Sir Julian Brazier TD

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Al Brown

    Associate Fellow - Expert in neurosymbolic artificial intelligence

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    Sir David Capewell KCB OBE

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Vice Admiral Patrick Chevallereau

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Professor Michael Clarke

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Emilie Cleret

    Associate Fellow

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    Michael Codner

    Senior Associate Fellow for Military History

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    Sam Cranny-Evans

    Associate Fellow

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    Oleksandr V Danylyuk

    Associate Fellow - Expert in Russian multidimensional warfare

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    Eleanor Fairhurst

    Associate Fellow

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    Lucy Fisher

    Associate Fellow; Whitehall Editor at the Financial Times

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    Admiral Sir Ian Forbes KCB CBE

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Niklas Granholm

    Associate Fellow; Deputy Director of Studies at FOI

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    John Griffiths-Spielman

    Distinguished Fellow; Head of Security and Defence Studies, AthenaLab, Chile

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    Dr Jack Harding

    Associate Fellow

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    Michael Harwood CB CBE MA

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    Beatrice Heuser

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Ben Hodges

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Dr Frank Hoffman

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    Vice Admiral Peter Hudson

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Professor Valur Ingimundarson

    Senior Associate Fellow; Professor of Contemporary History, University of Iceland

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    Dr Rebecca Jensen

    Associate Fellow - Expert in operational art, military operations, and military strategy

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    Will Jessett CBE

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    Vice Admiral Sir Clive Johnstone KBE CB

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Admiral Sir Philip Jones GCB DL

    Trustee

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    Dr Daniel Jonsson

    Associate Fellow

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    Professor Mary Kaldor

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    Dan Kaszeta

    Associate Fellow

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    Professor David Kirkpatrick

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    Dr Nina Kollars

    Senior Associate Fellow; Associate Professor in the Cyber and Innovation Policy Institute (CIPI)

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    Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd CBE

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Sarah Lain

    Associate Fellow

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    Ewan Lawson

    Associate Fellow

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    Dr Peter Layton

    Associate Fellow

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    Dr Chris Lewis

    Associate Fellow

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    Dr Sarah Lockyer

    Senior Associate Fellow; Casualty Identification Coordinator for Canada’s Department of National Defence

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    Whit Mason

    Associate Fellow

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    Major General Mungo Melvin CB OBE MA

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    Dr Ziya Meral

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    General Sir Gordon Messenger KCB DSO* OBE

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Professor Alessio Patalano

    Senior Associate Fellow; Professor of War and Strategy in East Asia, War Studies, KCL

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    Sir Nick Parker KCB CBE

    Distinguished Fellow

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    Christopher Parry CBE

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    Mark Phillips

    Associate Fellow

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    Dr Brad Pietras

    Associate Fellow; Senior Commercial Advisor to DARPA

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    Professor Patrick Porter

    Senior Associate Fellow; Professor of International Security and Strategy at the University of Birmingham

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    Mark Proctor OBE

    Associate Fellow

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    Peter Quentin

    Associate Fellow

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    Elizabeth Quintana

    Associate Fellow - Specialist in Futures and Technology

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    Professor Peter Roberts

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    Major General (Ret) Bill Robins CB OBE

    Senior Associate Fellow

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    Dr Michael Shurkin

    Associate Fellow

    Military Sciences

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    Natia Seskuria

    Associate Fellow; Founder and Executive Director of RISS

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    Juan Pablo Toro

    Senior Associate Fellow; Executive Director of AthenaLab, Chile

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    Dr Paddy Walker

    Associate Fellow

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    Dr Heather Williams

    Associate Fellow

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    Dr Thomas Withington

    Associate Fellow - Expert in electronic warfare and air defence

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