Section: RAND (USA)
Sweden, Finland, and NATO’s First-Class Airpower Upgrade
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Finland and Sweden—both longtime neutral states—decided to join NATO. What do these new alliance members bring to the air fight, and how does this impact NATO strategy in the Baltics? …read more Source::...
Can Studying Combat in the Black Sea Improve the Chinese Navy?
Chinese military strategists have been watching the Ukraine War closely, and events in the Black Sea with special attention. Why would China be interested in uncovering the secrets of Ukraine’s success against a much larger fleet? …read more Source::...
Russia’s Disinformation Campaign About the Moscow Terror Attack May Be Working
As far-fetched as it may seem to those in the West, the Kremlin’s claim that the recent terrorist attack on a Moscow concert hall was orchestrated by Ukraine and Western powers may be convincing to many Russians. For the U.S. to address and combat these claims, it is important to understand how they are framed amid broadly propagated...
The Moscow Terror Attack Shows the Limits of the Russia-Iran Partnership
Growing military and economic ties between Russia and Iran pose a threat to U.S. and Western interests. But their relationship remains largely transactional. The Ukraine war has incentivized them to paper over their disputes for now, but has not erased significant differences which make it more difficult for Moscow and Tehran to forge a true...
Putin’s Cordon Sanitaire in Ukraine
Moscow is signaling a renewed Russian lunge into northern Ukraine to create a buffer zone and seize Kharkiv. Any Russian escalation in northern Ukraine deserves to be met with the full force of Ukraine’s own arms and those from the West. …read more Source::...
What Chinese Navy Planners Are Learning from Ukraine’s Use of Unmanned Surface Vessels
The continued success of Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) attacks on Russian naval facilities and warships has kept USVs in the defense analytical spotlight and naval analysts around the world, particularly those in China, are taking note. …read more Source::...
The Russian Air Force Is Hollowing Itself Out. Air Defenses for Ukraine Would Speed That Up
The Russian Aerospace Forces has fewer than 650 tactical aircraft when accounting for end-of-life aircraft; it has even less when accounting for accelerated usage. But these numbers are unlikely to change Russia’s behavior, based on its exhibited willingness to accept high losses, even for trivial gains. …read more Source::...
What Sweden’s Accession Means for NATO
Russia’s failed invasion of Ukraine pushed neutral Sweden to embrace a role in Europe and NATO’s collective defence and security. With the addition of its 32nd Member, NATO’s toolkit gains Sweden’s ground and air combat, nearshore and undersea warfare capabilities, as well as the country’s expertise in niche areas...
Pace Through Integration? UK Defence Attempts Procurement Reform, Again
The Ukraine war has exposed a challenge: how can allies gear their defence industries up to deliver materiel to Ukraine while remaining fit for purpose at home? By introducing a new integrated procurement model, the UK Ministry of Defence aims to consciously integrate lessons learned from past programmes—successful and otherwise. …read more...
Help Ukraine Win—or Risk Kicking Off a U.S. Losing Streak
Continued assistance to Ukraine is critical if the United States is to retain its position as the world’s indispensable nation and the many benefits Americans enjoy as a result. Failing to support Ukraine now might kick off an American losing streak that could take decades to overcome. …read more Source::...
