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Is Defence’s Latest Operating Model Fit for Purpose?
Commentary, 24 November 2020
Andrew Curtis
The Ministry of Defence has published a new version of its operating model – ‘How Defence Works’ – its first update for almost five years. Given the major changes to Defence ways of working in that time, and the forthcoming Integrated Review’s potential for further disruption, is it, and how long will it remain, fit for purpose?
Tags: Armed Forces, UK Defence Policy, UK Integrated Review 2021, UK
Sea Training: An Oft Overlooked Strategic Asset
Commentary, 11 October 2019
Peter Roberts and Sidharth Kaushal
Rumours abound that the Royal Navy is to gut its globally respected Operational Sea Training organisation in order to reallocate cash across defence. It is not simply the UK’s martial reputation that would be at stake; the evidence states that operational sea training is a crucial asset on which the Royal Navy should not skimp.
Tags: Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, UK, Defence Management, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, National Security
The UK Strategy on Protection of Civilians: Insights for the Review Process
Whitehall Reports, 18 September 2019
Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Amanda Brydon and Ewan Lawson
This Whitehall Report details the research conducted by RUSI and Save the Children on how to improve the UK's Protection of Civilians strategy following its review.
Tags: Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, United Nations, Civil–Military Relations, Global Strategy and Commitments, UK, Global Security Issues, Land Forces, Law and Ethics, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Resilience
UK Ministry of Defence Announces Ambitious Plans for Space
Commentary, 30 July 2019
Alexandra Stickings
The UK has recently announced a number of new military space initiatives, showing that it is taking this strategic environment seriously. While these are welcome developments, questions persist over the UK’s broader space ambitions.
Tags: Aerospace, Air Power and Technology, Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, United States, Defence Spending, Equipment and Acquisitions, UK, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Technology, UK Defence
UK Strategic Command: Look East to Understand What it Means
Commentary, 22 July 2019
Peter Roberts
A recent command transformation announced in the UK may have drawn inspiration from an unlikely source: China.
Tags: Armed Forces, Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, Global Strategy and Commitments, UK, Defence Management, Domestic Security, Securing Britain, Land Forces, Military Personnel, National Security, UK Defence
RUSI First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference
Conference Reports, 9 July 2019
Sidharth Kaushal
On 15 May 2019, RUSI held the First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference to discuss maritime strategy in a changing naval environment.
Tags: Armed Forces, Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, Civil–Military Relations, Defence Spending, Equipment and Acquisitions, Global Strategy and Commitments, UK, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, National Security, Technology, UK DefencePages

Is Defence’s Latest Operating Model Fit for Purpose?
Commentary, 24 November 2020Andrew Curtis
The Ministry of Defence has published a new version of its operating model – ‘How Defence Works’ – its first update for almost five years. Given the major changes to Defence ways of working in that time, and the forthcoming Integrated Review’s potential for further disruption, is it, and how long will it remain, fit for purpose?
Armed Forces, UK Defence Policy, UK Integrated Review 2021, UK
Sea Training: An Oft Overlooked Strategic Asset
Commentary, 11 October 2019Peter Roberts and Sidharth Kaushal
Rumours abound that the Royal Navy is to gut its globally respected Operational Sea Training organisation in order to reallocate cash across defence. It is not simply the UK’s martial reputation that would be at stake; the evidence states that operational sea training is a crucial asset on which the Royal Navy should not skimp.
Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, UK, Defence Management, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, National Security
UK Ministry of Defence Announces Ambitious Plans for Space
Commentary, 30 July 2019Alexandra Stickings
The UK has recently announced a number of new military space initiatives, showing that it is taking this strategic environment seriously. While these are welcome developments, questions persist over the UK’s broader space ambitions.
Aerospace, Air Power and Technology, Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, United States, Defence Spending, Equipment and Acquisitions, UK, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Technology, UK Defence
UK Strategic Command: Look East to Understand What it Means
Commentary, 22 July 2019Peter Roberts
A recent command transformation announced in the UK may have drawn inspiration from an unlikely source: China.
Armed Forces, Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, Global Strategy and Commitments, UK, Defence Management, Domestic Security, Securing Britain, Land Forces, Military Personnel, National Security, UK Defence
Initial Thoughts on the Government’s Assessment of the Security Partnership with the EU
Commentary, 28 November 2018Malcolm Chalmers
The Future Security Partnership with the EU keeps options open for future security cooperation – but the UK will have to decide how much sovereignty it is prepared to give up to maintain current levels of security.
Terrorism and Conflict, UK Defence Policy, European Union, Brexit, UK, National Security, UK Defence, EuropePages

The UK Strategy on Protection of Civilians: Insights for the Review Process
Whitehall Reports, 18 September 2019Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Amanda Brydon and Ewan Lawson
This Whitehall Report details the research conducted by RUSI and Save the Children on how to improve the UK's Protection of Civilians strategy following its review.
Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, United Nations, Whitehall Reports, Civil–Military Relations, Global Strategy and Commitments, UK, Global Security Issues, Land Forces, Law and Ethics, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Resilience
RUSI First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference
Conference Reports, 9 July 2019Sidharth Kaushal
On 15 May 2019, RUSI held the First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference to discuss maritime strategy in a changing naval environment.
Armed Forces, Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, Civil–Military Relations, Defence Spending, Equipment and Acquisitions, Global Strategy and Commitments, Conference Reports, UK, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, National Security, Technology, UK Defence
Defence and Electoral Credibility: Challenges for the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet
RUSI Newsbrief, 28 June 2018Josh Arnold-Forster
The potential political acceptance of tax rises to fund the NHS is beginning to influence the debate on defence spending. Will this provide the impetus to defeat those political leaders who want to...
Defence, Industries and Society, UK Defence Policy, Defence Spending, RUSI Newsbrief, UK, Defence Policy, Domestic Security, National Security, UK Defence
Would a New SDSR Be Needed After a Brexit Vote?
Briefing Papers, 3 June 2016Malcolm Chalmers
Professor Malcolm Chalmers presents a personal argument stating that a UK decision to leave the EU would be as significant a shift in UK national strategy as the decision in the late 1960s to...
UK Defence Policy, Defence Spending, European Union, Brexit, Briefing Papers, Scottish Defence and Security Policy, UK, Defence Policy, UK Defence, Europe
Spending Matters: Defence and Security Budgets after the 2015 Spending Review
Briefing Papers, 13 May 2016Malcolm Chalmers
While the 2015 Spending Review confirmed a stabilisation in the total defence and security budget after a period of sharp decline, a new RUSI report reveals a substantial shift in the way this is...
UK Defence Policy, Briefing Papers, UK, Defence Management, Defence PolicyPages

Pre-election Defence Debate
Events, 22 May 2017Senior representatives from all the main parties took part in a RUSI debate on defence and security ahead of the election.
UK Defence Policy, UK, UK Defence
Perspectives on Non-competitive Defence Spending
Events, 16 November 2016A discussion on single source defence procurement, organised with the Single Source Regulations Office.
Defence, Industries and Society, UK Defence Policy
RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2016
Conference, 28 June 2016Held annually on behalf of the Chief of the General Staff, this conference reflects on the breadth of challenges confronting today’s land forces in a global security environment characterised by...
Land Operations, Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, CANCELLED: RUSI Land Warfare Conference, UK, Land Forces
The Future of Policing in the Digital Age
Conference, 21 June 2016This year RUSI will convene a major conference entitled The Future of Policing in the Digital Age, bringing together policy makers and senior police officers with academic and industry experts.
Cyber, Future UK Cyber Security Strategy Project, Organised Crime, Policing and Security, Risk and Resilience, Terrorism and Conflict, UK Defence Policy, UK, Domestic Security, Organised Crime, Resilience, Technology
The Black Door: Spies, Secret Intelligence and 10 Downing Street
Events, 23 May 2016A presentation by Professor Richard Aldrich, Professor of International Security, University of Warwick and Dr Rory Cormac, Assistant Professor of International Relations, University of Nottingham
UK Defence Policy, UK, IntelligencePages

"“You need three times as many men as the enemy when attacking,” he said. “A battalion that is missing 10% of its strength can probably compensate for the shortfall. Having lost 30%, you are not going to be able to generate the combat power to stand up to two enemy battalions, even in the defence.” "
UK frontline troop numbers down by as much as a third
In The News, 1 April 2019 Tags: Military Sciences, UK Defence Policy, UK
Dependent Deterrent? US Support for the UK’s New Nuclear Warhead
New Zealand's Indo-Pacific Recalibration
The Budding Alliance Between Lockdown Critics and the Far-Right in Germany