Our research looks at the current and future capabilities and limitations of air power. The ability to deliver force from the air with unrivalled precision, at great range and in a matter of hours almost anywhere in the world has been the West’s greatest military advantage since the later stages of the Cold War. However, declining defence budgets, long development and procurement timescales and rapid proliferation of technology are threatening the West’s ability to control the skies.
We explore what this global trend means, as well as the doctrinal, strategic and ethical implications of novel technologies such as lasers, railguns, autonomous weapons systems and multi-spectral detection systems.
Our experts
Professor Justin Bronk
Senior Research Fellow, Airpower & Technology
Military Sciences
Fellows
Air Marshal Greg Bagwell CB CBE
Distinguished Fellow
Victor Chavez CBE
Senior Associate Fellow; Former CEO, Thales UK
Air Commodore (Ret’d) Andrew Curtis OBE
Associate Fellow; Independent Defence Researcher
Air Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) Mike Hart CBE
Senior Associate Fellow
Michael Harwood CB CBE MA
Senior Associate Fellow
Dr Rebecca Jensen
Associate Fellow - Expert in operational art, military operations, and military strategy
Professor David Kirkpatrick
Senior Associate Fellow
Air Chief Marshal Lord Peach of Grantham GBE KCB DL
Distinguished Fellow
Dr Brad Pietras
Associate Fellow; Senior Commercial Advisor to DARPA
Elizabeth Quintana
Associate Fellow - Specialist in Futures and Technology
Dr Thomas Withington
Associate Fellow - Expert in electronic warfare and air defence