RAND Research Topic: Defense Cooperation

The Nature of the Chinese-Iranian Partnership and the Challenges It Poses for the U.S.

May 2, 2012

The partnership between China and Iran presents challenges to U.S. interests, including dissuading Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability. An analysis of the factors driving Chinese-Iranian cooperation offers policy options for influencing this partnership to meet U.S. objectives.

Iran's Calculations in New Diplomatic Talks

Apr 17, 2012

Beset by economic problems, political divisions, and domestic discontent, Iranian leaders may compromise—or appear to make compromises—to cushion the regime from the mounting internal and external pressures, writes Alireza Nader.

Building Partner Country Capacity for Stability Operations

Dec 16, 2011

Helps to develop an integrated strategy for building partner capacity for stability operations through an analysis of key strategic elements within the context of BPC and stability operations guidance as well as ongoing security cooperation programs.

The Future of Gulf Security in a Region of Dramatic Change: Mutual Equities and Enduring Relationships

Dec 16, 2011

The June 2011 conference titled "Gulf Security in a Region of Dramatic Change: Mutual Equities and Enduring Partnerships" included discussion of the Arab Spring, the prospects for and implications of a more-unified Gulf Cooperation Council, how Gulf militaries and their relationships with the United States may be affected by political changes, how present-day events may influence or alter the threat posed by Iran, and how CENTCOM may be affected.

Learning from Experience

Dec 9, 2011

Large, complex submarine design and construction programs demand personnel with unique skills and capabilities supplemented with practical experiences in their areas of expertise. Recognizing the importance of past experiences for successful program management, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth of Australia asked the RAND Corporation to develop a set of lessons learned from previous submarine programs that could help inform future program managers. The four volumes in this set present lessons learned from the Ohio, Seawolf, and Virginia programs of the United States; the Astute program of the United Kingdom; and the Collins program of Australia.

Developing U.S. Army Officers' Capabilities for Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Environments

Dec 6, 2011

Identifies and describes the knowledge, skills, and abilities that enable Army officers to succeed in joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational contexts.

Learning from Experience: Volume III: Lessons from the United Kingdom's Astute Submarine Program

Nov 16, 2011

This volume presents a set of lessons learned from the United Kingdom's Astute submarine program that could help inform future program managers. Designing and building a submarine requires careful management and oversight and a delegation of roles and responsibilities that recognizes which party — the shipbuilder or the government — is best positioned to manage risks.

Learning from Experience: Volume II: Lessons from the U.S. Navy's Ohio, Seawolf, and Virginia Submarine Programs

Nov 16, 2011

The U.S. Navy asked the RAND Corporation to develop a set of lessons learned from previous submarine programs that could help inform future program managers. This volume presents lessons from three U.S. submarine programs. The RAND team looked at how the programs were managed, the issues that affected management decisions, and the outcomes of those decisions. An overarching lesson from the three programs is the importance of program stability.

Learning from Experience: Volume IV: Lessons from Australia's Collins Submarine Program

Nov 16, 2011

This volume presents a set of lessons learned from Australia's Collins submarine program that could help inform future program managers. Collins was the first submarine built in Australia. RAND investigated how operational requirements were set for the Collins class; explored the acquisition, contracting, design, and build processes that the program employed; and assessed the activities surrounding integrated logistics support for the class.

Lessons from the Submarine Programs of the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia

Nov 16, 2011

An examination of five submarine programs in the three countries—the UK's Astute program; the U.S. Navy's Ohio, Seawolf, and Virginia programs; and Australia's Collins program—identifies lessons that could help inform future program managers.

An Open Door in Libya

Oct 20, 2011

The days and weeks after a victory like this are a golden hour that set in motion either a virtuous cycle of increasing security and economic growth, or a downward spiral into insecurity, factionalism and economic chaos, write Christopher S. Chivvis and Frederic Wehrey.

Security from the Bottom Up

Oct 7, 2011

If the Afghan government is to have a chance of defeating the Taliban, its national-security forces must successfully leverage the country's many competing factions, village by village, writes Seth G. Jones.

Lessons from U.S. Allies in Security Cooperation with Third Countries: The Cases of Australia, France, and the United Kingdom

Oct 5, 2011

Several key U.S. allies engage in security cooperation, albeit on a smaller scale than the United States. To see what the U.S. Air Force can learn from these efforts, the authors examined how and why three allies — Australia, France, and the United Kingdom — provide security cooperation and highlight three key areas that could benefit from further collaboration: staff talks, exercises, and training followed by exercises.

Integrating the Full Range of Security Cooperation Programs into Air Force Planning: An Analytic Primer

Sep 29, 2011

The Air Force and other Defense Department entities conduct a host of security cooperation activities with partner air forces. However, there is currently no process for systematically tracking all these programs and activities. This report supplies Air Force planners with more-accessible information about resources for security cooperation, the rules that govern their use, and their application methods.

Assessing the U.S. Air Force Unified Engagement Building Partnerships Seminars

Sep 27, 2011

These seminars support Unified Engagement, a biannual wargame, by engaging partner countries in tabletop exercises to develop inputs for the larger game and enhance regional security cooperation. Using the RAND security cooperation assessment framework RAND assessed two seminars and recommended a series of enhancements, including setting measurable objectives, identifying and involving other stakeholders, and establishing follow-up mechanisms.

How Successful Are U.S. Efforts to Build Capacity in Developing Countries? A Framework to Assess the Global Train and Equip "1206" Program

Sep 14, 2011

The Global Train and Equip "1206" Program is a multiagency security cooperation program that supports U.S.-led capacity-building activities focused on counterterrorism and stability operations with foreign military partners. Interviews with policymakers and subject-matter experts, combined with a survey of program stakeholders, revealed some challenges and best approaches to establishing an assessment framework for 1206 Program projects.

Assessing the Effectiveness of the International Counterproliferation Program

Sep 12, 2011

To effectively confront the threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the United States relies on the will and capacity of international partners for assistance. It requires international cooperation, including security cooperation programs to enhance partner capacity. Assessing the impact of these efforts is inherently difficult. This report demonstrates how one assessment framework can be applied to these programs.

Security Force Assistance in Afghanistan

Sep 11, 2011

Security force assistance (SFA) is a central pillar of the counterinsurgency campaign being waged by U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. An analysis of SFA efforts documents U.S. and international approaches to building the Afghan National Security Forces from 2001 to 2009 and provides recommendations and their implications for the U.S Army.

From Insurgency to Stability: Volume I: Key Capabilities and Practices

Sep 7, 2011

This book identifies the procedures and capabilities that the U.S. Department of Defense, other agencies of the U.S. government, U.S. allies and partners, and international organizations require in order to support the transition from counterinsurgency, when the military takes primary responsibility for security and economic operations, to stability and reconstruction, when police and civilian government agencies take the lead.

From Insurgency to Stability: Volume II: Insights from Selected Case Studies

Sep 7, 2011

This book examines six case studies of insurgencies from around the world to determine the key factors necessary for a successful transition from counterinsurgency to a more stable situation. The authors review the causes of each insurgency and the key players involved, and examine what the government did right — or wrong — to bring the insurgency to an end and to transition to greater stability.