Simulation in the US Army: The Roots and Branches of Virtual Environments for Planning and Training

In embracing simulation and the underlying technologies for both training and planning, the United States Department of Defense reflects important trends that are present in militaries across the globe. Arthur I Cyr, Director, Clausen Center for World Business at Carthage College in Wisconsin, traces the origins of recent initiatives and outlines the direction in which the industry is heading

Simulation in Weapons Development

Technological advances are making computer simulations a credible alternative to costly field exercises and live firings – and in some cases they are preferred. With ever more realism and likeness to the battlespace, technology is replacing traditional modelling, validation and training techniques, particularly for guided weapons. Ben Toomer takes a closer look

Games Armies Play

Dr Jeffrey Peter Bradford looks into the importance of simulation and training, and the difference between these two critical military activities

The Challenges and Opportunities in Developing an Indian Ballistic Missile Defence System

China’s aspirations for global power status and its military modernisation programme, as well as other regional strategic alliances have given India’s missile defence programme greater credence. Patel reviews India’s nuclear capabilities

Joint Strike Fighter Synthetic Training

Joint Strike Fighter will be a step change for combat aircraft training, not only will most forces operating the aircraft move to a 50-50 live/synthetic training mix but the synthetic training may prove to be more beneficial in some cases than live flying. Elizabeth Quintana investigates synthetic training for the JSF fifth-generation aircraft programme

Innovation and Budget Efficiency: Virtual at Sea Training for the Future

Captain George Galdorisi, US Navy (retired), Amanda George, Dr Stephanie Hszieh and Darren Powell assess the need to innovate during a time of depressed budgets and highlight some of the impressive cost savings that can be gained from extensive use of simulation

Getting the Most out of Open Innovation: The Challenge for Defence

Dr Andrew James, Senior Lecturer in Science and Technology Policy and Management at Manchester Business School argues that the traditional closed model of defence innovation is broken and a new era of open innovation beckons, placing a strong emphasis on a closer relationship between government, industry, universities and non-traditional sources of research and technology

Anglo/French Joint Training: Developing the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force

This December marks the 15th anniversary of the St Malo Joint Declaration on European Defence signed by Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac in 1998. This major step towards a European capability to act militarily if need be without US military support has started to take on a tangible combat identity – the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. Simon Michell takes a closer look at the recent CJEF training

Bringing C4ISTAR into the Maritime Environment

Babcock Integrated Systems and Support Group Director, Charles John, looks at the often unrecognised challenges involved in bringing C4ISTAR systems into service in the maritime environment, and the holistic approach needed to meet these challenges successfully

Who Dares Wins

The Type 45 Daring-class destroyer programme has certainly been controversial. But, as it approaches fruition, HMS Daring and her sisters are already making a significant impact on the new Royal Navy, as BBC World Affairs Correspondent Nick Childs reports

Renewing UK Carrier Strike Capability

Simon Michell highlights some of the key attributes of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class of aircraft carrier, which is well on the way to completion, with blocks already in the water

Digitising the Battlefield: Delivering Future Communications Systems

Robert Baxter explains the complexity of delivering the vital Communications Informations Systems capability, elaborating on why an evolutionary approach is essential and warning that the delivery is as important as what is delivered

Combat Vehicles – Less is More: Assessing the New Armoured Infantry

William F Owen examines the Army 2020 concept and suggests that the introduction of a less costly fleet of combat vehicles might enable the armoured infantry of the future to train more effectively and therefore enhance its performance on the battlefield

Land Logistics: Maintaining Credibility after Afghanistan

Nick Burton from PA Consulting Group explains how logistics credibility can be maintained after the Afghanistan drawdown

The Market for the Next Generation of Armoured Vehicles

A series of impending decisions in international competitions for new armoured vehicles – notably infantry fighting vehicles – will show to what extent combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan has influenced defence ministries and vehicle designers. Alan Dron explains

Europe’s Game Changer

The MBDA Meteor missile is a game-changing system that is on the verge of entering service. Robert Hewson reviews the weapon’s capabilities and examines its export potential

New Markets for UAVs

Christina Mackenzie asks whether the growing requirement for border security and policing that exists in Africa and Asia will lead to a new market for unmanned aerial vehicles

Competition for Combat Helicopters

The military rotary-wing market is currently dominated by AgustaWestland, Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Eurocopter, Russian Helicopters JSC and Sikorsky. In spite of defence cuts, the original equipment manufacturers are continuing to bring out innovative designs and upgrades, albeit on a reduced level. Ian Vincent Frain takes a look at the combat helicopter sector

Combat-Proven Aircraft

Martin Temperley reviews the current fourth-generation fast-jet fighter aircraft market to see whether it has peaked or whether opportunities still remain for some manufacturers

“It’s the Economy, Stupid!”

Dr John Louth, Senior Research Fellow and Director, Defence, Industries and Society at RUSI, argues that despite the defence industry’s seemingly small size it remains a strategic asset that should be protected for more than just reasons of national defence

Anglo-French Defence Cooperation in the Age of Austerity

Peter D Antill, Pete Ito and Steve Robinson from the Centre for Defence Acquisition, Cranfield University, examine the growing Anglo-French defence collaboration and suggest that its success is important not just for Europe but also for the United States

The Current and Future Roles of the UK Armed Forces

The United Kingdom’s armed forces are in the grip of yet another major reorganisation to create a coherent force that is able to defend the national interest and address threats worldwide. Simon Michell assesses these threats and looks at current and future conflicts

UK Operational Capacity

Simon Michell takes a look at the Future Force 2020 and explains how it will be organised to counter future threats across a diverse range of scenarios

On the Edge of the Abyss?

The Editor's letter

The UK’s Next Class of Ballistic Submarines

Simon Michell contends that if the United Kingdom is to have a credible and assured nuclear deterrent based on the submarine-launched Trident missile, then four boats are required, not three

Prompting Discussion in the Defence and Security Industries

Michael Clarke

A foreword to a special edition of RDS by the Director General of RUSI

A Volatile and Dangerous World

The world is becoming less stable and more unpredictable, with threats emerging seemingly out of the blue. Robert Fox highlights some of the geopolitical conditions that will have to be addressed if the world is to continue to prosper in relative security