Contemporary Warfare
In this long-term project, RUSI staff analyse contemporary warfare (between states, proxies or other groups) and draw lessons about the future of conflict.
Understanding how contemporary conflicts are fought – with what equipment, technology and people – is essential if we are to gain insights into the future of warfare. Selective lesson-learning by governments and militaries needs to be scrutinised and challenged to ensure the right deductions, assumptions and presumptions are being made.
This project takes a long view of warfare’s evolution, but examines campaigns, battles and engagements individually where their implications are significant.
Project team
Professor Justin Bronk
Senior Research Fellow, Airpower & Technology
Military Sciences
Dr Sidharth Kaushal
Senior Research Fellow, Sea Power
Military Sciences
Paul O’Neill
Senior Research Fellow
Military Sciences
Nick Reynolds
Research Fellow, Land Warfare
Military Sciences
Professor Peter Roberts
Senior Associate Fellow
Peppi Vaananen
Dr Paddy Walker
Associate Fellow
Dr Jack Watling
Senior Research Fellow, Land Warfare
Military Sciences
Aims and objectives
The aim of this project is to provide relevant and up-to-the-minute evidence that underwrites our research and publications about warfare.
The project has additional objectives, including:
- Keeping stakeholders, members and the community in touch with warfare trends and developments.
 - Contributing to the UK debate on security and defence.
 - Maintaining an evidence base from which to challenge false assumptions, presumptions and claims made by other parties.
 - Enabling industrial and commercial partners to see themes and patterns from which they can draw business development insights and shape research and development spending.
 - Contributing to the history and analysis of the wars and conflicts of our time as part of RUSI’s meaningful legacy.
Project outputs
Access key publications produced as part of this project.
