2015
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RUSI Defence Systems
January 2015 , No:
The US Long Range Strike Bomber: Future Roles, Capabilities and Challenges
RUSI Defence Systems, December 2015Justin Bronk and Timothy Stafford
The Pentagon recently agreed a contract for its next-generation, nuclear-capable Long Range Strike Bomber. But questions remain about reported plans for the bomber to be ‘optionally manned’ in its conventional role, while funding may also prove an issue
Aerospace, US Defence Policy
The P-8 Decision: Why No Competition, Why No Dates, Why No Costs?
RUSI Defence Systems, November 2015Trevor Taylor
The restoration of the UK’s maritime patrol capability may be welcome, but while the decision answers one question, it raises several more
Aerospace
Refuelling the Ambition: SDSR 2015’s Combat Air Oversight
RUSI Defence Systems, November 2015Justin Bronk
Despite a slew of high-end capabilities announced by the SDSR in the combat air domain, fuelling these new aircraft might prove a more subtle difficulty
Aerospace
Detailing Russian Forces in Syria
RUSI Defence Systems, November 2015Igor Sutyagin
Russia’s direct intervention in the Syrian crisis has attracted a great deal of attention. A detailed analysis of the actual scope of the Russian military deployment in Syria indicates Moscow’s level of commitment to the conflict
Cameron's Peacekeeping Commitment
RUSI Defence Systems, September 2015Adrian L Johnson
The prime minister has pledged up to 370 British personnel to United Nations operations. Does this herald a return of the UK to peacekeeping?
United Nations
Scale, Influence and Moral Purpose: Issues for the SDSR
RUSI Defence Systems, September 2015Michael Codner
What does Mr Fallon’s speech tell us about his vision for the UK’s role in the world, deterrence in the twenty-first century, and the relationship between politics and the military in modern Britain?
Defence Policy, UK Defence
Maritime Patrol Capability: The SDSR’s Wolf Whistle
RUSI Defence Systems, September 2015John Louth and Peter Roberts
The UK’s maritime patrol capability should be the result of an open competition, rather than a behind-the-curtains purchase of a preferred airframe
Aerospace, Maritime Forces
Russia’s New Maritime Doctrine: Attacking NATO’s Sea Lanes of Communication in the Atlantic – Sustainability, Future Capabilities and Potential Countermeasures
RUSI Defence Systems, August 2015Igor Sutyagin
How seriously should the West take the thinly veiled Russian threat against Atlantic shipping in recent doctrine?
Maritime Forces
Russia’s New Maritime Doctrine: Attacking NATO’s Sea Lanes of Communication in the Atlantic – Intent and Feasibility
RUSI Defence Systems, August 2015Igor Sutyagin
How seriously should the West take the thinly veiled Russian threat against Atlantic shipping in recent doctrine?
Maritime Forces
Towards a New National Cyber Security Strategy
RUSI Defence Systems, August 2015Ewan Lawson
As cyberspace continues to prove a challenging environment, the British government needs to consider how it will respond to future threats, not only practically but philosophically
Cyber, Intelligence, National Security, Resilience, Technology
Small, Smart and Many: How Drones Will Defeat Legacy Platforms on the Battlefield
RUSI Defence Systems, July 2015T X Hammes
Large numbers of smart, inexpensive drones will defeat the few and bespoke fifth-generation fighters and new long-range bombers currently being fielded by Western forces
Sixth-Generation Fighters in 2030: A Realistic Prospect?
RUSI Defence Systems, July 2015James Nelson and Justin Bronk
A ‘5.5 generation Super Raptor’, based on an evolution of the F-22 design concept or of the F-35 once the latter has matured in service, is a more likely prospect than operational sixth-generation fighter aircraft by 2030
Aerospace, Technology
China’s Defence White Paper: Prospects for More Expansive Power Projection
RUSI Defence Systems, July 2015Alexander Anderson
The strategic vision outlined in China’s recent defence White Paper points to a will to project state power beyond its immediate environs. China’s regional neighbours are right to be concerned
Aerospace, Maritime Forces
Has the War on Terror Created a New Breed of Military Sniper?
RUSI Defence Systems, July 2015Justin Bronk
The prolonged counterinsurgency campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq drove a significant evolution of the military sniper in terms of role, equipment, tactics and lethality
Counterinsurgency, Land Forces, Military Personnel
Hypersonics: A Viable Alternative to Stealth?
RUSI Defence Systems, June 2015James Nelson
Hypersonics is the realm beyond Mach 5. Systems designed to operate in this regime offer a number of potential advantages including reduced flight times, higher survivability and greater kinetic effects but considerable technical challenges remain
Aerospace, Technology
The Problem with the UK Carrier-Strike Model
RUSI Defence Systems, June 2015Peter Roberts
If the UK does not change how it plans to generate and execute carrier-strike training and operational deployments, the country will be underexploiting an excellent and expensive capability
Aerospace, Maritime Forces, UK Defence
The Future of Europe’s Defence Industry: Rethinking Sovereignty
RUSI Defence Systems, June 2015Christina Balis
After decades of piecemeal consolidation and interlocking alliances, Europe stands on the precipice of a major defence industrial shift
Defence Management, Defence Policy
Deconstructing the Digital World: EMP in Warfare and Nature
RUSI Defence Systems, June 2015James Nelson
Suitcase E-bombs, shoulder mounted RFDEW and missile delivered EMP are all becoming operational realities. Both military and civilian circles should take note since in an increasingly digitised world, EMP represents a threat which should not be taken lightly
Aerospace, Land Forces, Technology
Unmanned Combat Air Systems: An Autonomous Revolution on the Horizon
RUSI Defence Systems, May 2015Tom Fillingham
Unmanned Combat Air Systems offer the potential to revolutionise air power – but they still need to mature and require a range of technologies and close partnership between operators and industry
Aerospace, Technology
Why the Iranian Purchase of the S-300 Should Worry the Gulf States
RUSI Defence Systems, May 2015Michael Stephens and Justin Bronk
The addition of powerful Russian long range air defence missiles to Iran's arsenal could prove intolerable for GCC neighbours and escalate an already tense regional standoff
Aerospace
A Herkulean Task: In-housing the Bundeswehr’s Information and Communication Technology
RUSI Defence Systems, April 2015Henrik Heidenkamp
The German Ministry of Defence’s decision to move its ICT provision back to an in-house entity provides a window for evaluating of the pros and cons of public sector solutions in defence
Defence Management
CJOAX: Building a Bilateral Crisis-Response Task Force
RUSI Defence Systems, April 2015Peter Quentin and Justin Bronk
This month in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the largest airborne exercise in a military generation will revitalise US-UK joint forcible entry capability with a demonstration of true interoperability
Land Forces, Military Personnel, UK Defence
Railing Against the West
RUSI Defence Systems, March 2015Timothy Stafford
As part of its comprehensive nuclear forces modernisation programme, Moscow is reviving a powerful and evasive nuclear system which proved a targeting nightmare for NATO during the Cold War
Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Technology
Future of the Space Domain in Modern Warfare
RUSI Defence Systems, March 2015Andrew Hardie
The militarisation of space has been a controversial issue since the early days of the Cold War. Is the West's military dependence on space assets pushing competitors to put weapons in orbit?
Aerospace, Technology
German Defence Exports: Catching up with Political Reality
RUSI Defence Systems, February 2015Henrik Heidenkamp
Changes to Germany's export licence policy have significant consequences for European defence going forward
Defence Management
The A-10 Retirement Battle: Why the King of CAS Must Die
RUSI Defence Systems, February 2015Justin Bronk
The iconic A-10 is a superb and highly efficient close air support platform. Defenders of the aircraft point to its unique capabilities and the lack of a like-for-like replacement. These arguments, however, miss the larger picture
Aerospace, Technology
Putin's ‘Flying Gunboats’
RUSI Defence Systems, February 2015Igor Sutyagin
Against the backdrop of tense relations over Ukraine and Crimea, Russia has increased Tu-95 'Bear' nuclear bomber flights on the boundaries of UK and NATO airspace. What is the Kremlin's viewpoint and is the implied nuclear threat to European NATO members credible?
Aerospace, UK Defence
The Falling Oil Price and UK C4ISR Hardware Sales to the GCC
RUSI Defence Systems, January 2015Matthew Hedges
C4ISR Hardware represents a lucrative market for British defence industry during a period when key GCC customers may tighten expenditure on traditional defence items
Doing More With Less: Effective Use of Human Capital in ISR Exploitation
RUSI Defence Systems, January 2015Andy Payne
Getting the most from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) is crucial to UK defence given the need to get maximum effect and value for money out of all military activity. (Free access)
Intelligence, Military Personnel, UK Defence2020
RUSI Defence Systems
Deadly Blast Shatters Beirut
China and the Middle East: Friends in Need and Deed?
From Japan: A View of ‘Global Britain’ and the UK Integrated Review