Defence

We review and assess the use of air power by both allied and adversary states in conflicts and deterrence around the world.

RUSI’s research addresses climate change as the backdrop to all national security, defence and foreign policy discourses.

We consider how the ideas, rules and arrangements that shape governmental defence relations with private sector suppliers challenge all governments.

We analyse defence management practices undertaken by the UK Ministry of Defence, including defence spending and the economic impact of defence expenditure.

This topic focuses on gender and its impact on conflict, extremism and security, highlighting the importance of a gender lens in policy and programming.

Our research focuses on regional affairs associated with the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons; countering proliferation finance; and broader issues of deterrence, disarmament and arms control.

The RUSI Land Warfare team conducts extensive fieldwork to study contemporary conflicts and to evaluate the impact of emerging military concepts, doctrine and technologies on the future battlefield.

Understanding how the military instrument of power has been used is a core part of RUSI’s mission and legacy with profound lessons and implications for today’s decisions and tomorrow’s policies.

Alliances are a critical part of the Western way of war and an enduring source of strength. Our research examines the detail behind alliances’ success or failure.

Resilience looks at how our political, military,  and societal preparations make us a less attractive target for adversaries – a wider contribution to deterrence for a modern era.

Our research assesses the strategic and operational trends that will dictate how navies fight, and what their role is.

We analyse UK and international space policy, the military aspects of space power and what the future of space conflict will look like.

RUSI’s research spans areas such as the intersection between technology and geopolitics, ethical and legal applications of AI, technology procurement, FinTech and cyber.

RUSI analyses today’s critical UK foreign policy issues, including the impact of Brexit, the response to Russia and China, and the Asian Pivot.

Contributing to the debate on the 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Foreign Policy and Development (IR), and its successor the March 2023 Integrated Review Refresh

RUSI conducts research and convenes discussions on the UK’s nuclear weapons programme, its nuclear policy, and its approach to non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament.