The Red Team Project: Understanding the Enemy

The Red Team project seeks to provide in-depth analysis of the military forces of adversaries and competitors




Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons


The RUSI Red Team project aims to provide in-depth analysis of the militaries of competitors and adversaries. The subjects we examine range from conceptual developments in the military thinking of key adversaries to more granular discussions of their tactics, techniques, procedures and capabilities. We will provide both multimedia and written analysis of theoretical and practical developments in the military science of rival forces. The purpose of this project is to ensure that Western analysts and practitioners avoid the risk of ‘mirror imaging’ the opponent and retain a clear understanding of the Red Team.

Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Military Reports

We review the Russian and Chinese military and their approaches to technology and modern warfare.

Jamming JDAM: The Threat to US Munitions from Russian Electronic Warfare

Jamming JDAM: The Threat to US Munitions from Russian Electronic Warfare

clock8 Minute Read
Stalking the Seabed: How Russia Targets Critical Undersea Infrastructure

Stalking the Seabed: How Russia Targets Critical Undersea Infrastructure

clockLong Read
The Zircon: How Much of a Threat Does Russia’s Hypersonic Missile Pose?

The Zircon: How Much of a Threat Does Russia’s Hypersonic Missile Pose?

clock10 Minute Read
Russia’s Iranian-Made UAVs: A Technical Profile

Russia’s Iranian-Made UAVs: A Technical Profile

clockLong Read
The Chechens: Putin’s Loyal Foot Soldiers

The Chechens: Putin’s Loyal Foot Soldiers

clock9 Minute Read
Understanding Russia’s Mobilisation

Understanding Russia’s Mobilisation

clock9 Minute Read
The Kaleidoscopic Campaigning of Russia’s Special Services

The Kaleidoscopic Campaigning of Russia’s Special Services

clock11 Minute Read
Can Russia Continue to Fight a Long War?

Can Russia Continue to Fight a Long War?

clockLong Read
The Iskander-M and Iskander-K: A Technical Profile

The Iskander-M and Iskander-K: A Technical Profile

clockLong Read
Defending Mother Russia’s Skies

Defending Mother Russia’s Skies

clock11 Minute Read
Russia’s Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons and Its Views of Limited Nuclear War

Russia’s Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons and Its Views of Limited Nuclear War

clock9 Minute Read
Dvornikov's Reforms: Tactical Training in the Southern Military District

Dvornikov's Reforms: Tactical Training in the Southern Military District

clock8 Minute Read
Understanding Russia’s Great Games: From Zapad 2013 to Zapad 2021

Understanding Russia’s Great Games: From Zapad 2013 to Zapad 2021

clockLong Read
The Death of Gorshkov’s Navy: The Future of the Russian Surface Fleet

The Death of Gorshkov’s Navy: The Future of the Russian Surface Fleet

clock7 Minute Read
Corruption in the Russian Armed Forces

Corruption in the Russian Armed Forces

clockLong Read
Technical Reflections on Russia’s Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Technical Reflections on Russia’s Armoured Fighting Vehicles

clock11 Minute Read
Getting to Know the Russian Battalion Tactical Group

Getting to Know the Russian Battalion Tactical Group

clockLong Read
The Intellectual Failures Behind Russia’s Bungled Invasion

The Intellectual Failures Behind Russia’s Bungled Invasion

clock10 Minute Read
As Far as the Orbital Eye Can See – Chinese ISR Capabilities in Space

As Far as the Orbital Eye Can See – Chinese ISR Capabilities in Space

clock5 Minute Read
China’s Evolving Nuclear Arsenal: Trajectories and Future Risks

China’s Evolving Nuclear Arsenal: Trajectories and Future Risks

clock7 Minute Read
The PLA Approach to Blockade Operations

The PLA Approach to Blockade Operations

clock9 Minute Read
The Distinctive Force Structure of the Expanded PLA Navy Marine Corps

The Distinctive Force Structure of the Expanded PLA Navy Marine Corps

clock8 Minute Read
Chinese Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities: A Blunt but Evolving Tool

Chinese Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities: A Blunt but Evolving Tool

clock9 Minute Read
People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces Logistics

People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces Logistics

clock7 Minute Read
UCAVs Are Likely to Form a Core Part of the Future PLAAF Arsenal

UCAVs Are Likely to Form a Core Part of the Future PLAAF Arsenal

clock8 Minute Read
China’s Reconnaissance Strike Complex: Echoes of Imperial Japan’s Strategy?

China’s Reconnaissance Strike Complex: Echoes of Imperial Japan’s Strategy?

clock9 Minute Read
The PLA’s Continued Emphasis on Subsonic Anti-Ship Missiles

The PLA’s Continued Emphasis on Subsonic Anti-Ship Missiles

clock8 Minute Read
The China Military Report: Electronic Warfare and the People’s Liberation Army

The China Military Report: Electronic Warfare and the People’s Liberation Army

clock8 Minute Read

Adversarial Studies Seminars

Watch the videos

Episode 23: Assessing the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Personnel
clock78 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 22: Exploring the Sino-Russian Relationship
clock75 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 21: Western Technology at the Heart of Russia's Military Machine
clock60 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 20: Threat based planning: an optimal framework for optimising against adversaries?
clock60 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 19: How the War in Ukraine is Evolving
clock60 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 18: The War in Ukraine and Taiwan’s Defensive Planning
clock40 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 17: Analysing the Performance of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine
clock60 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 16: The 21st Century Urban Battlespace
clock60 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 15: The Russian Army’s Approach to Warfare
clock32 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 14: Innovation and Great Power Competition
clock32 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 13: Granularity in the Grey Zone: Distinct Adversary Approaches to Sub-Threshold Competition
clock37 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 12: The Rise of China’s Navy in the Indo-Pacific: Challenges and Response Options
clock28 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 11: Russian Strategic Thinking and the Kremlin’s Approach to Coercion
clock22 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 10: Forceful Persuasion: The Psychology of Convincing an Opponent They Are Beaten
clock32 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 9: Living with Uncertainty: The Assumptions Underpinning Chinese Nuclear Strategy
clock18 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 8: Countering Malign Information Operations: The Lithuanian Experience
clock35 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 7: Carried Over the Threshold: Hybrid Tactics and Responses
clock27 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 6: The Information Domain Threat Environment
clock19 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 5: Deterrence on NATO’s Eastern Flank: The Challenge of IAMD
clock23 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 4: Anti-satellite Weapons
clock20 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 3: Integrated Coercion: The Case of China
clock37 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 2: Iranian Command and Control for Proxy Warfare
clock28 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right
Episode 1: Russian and Chinese Air Defences
clock22 Minute Watch
View onlinechevron-right