Latest NSRD Work

Jun 23, 2026

Quality and Patient Safety Review Processes in Military Treatment Facilities and Operational Clinical Services

RAND researchers assessed the quality and patient safety review processes for care delivered in military treatment facilities and via operational clinical services. Findings were used to identify potential opportunities for improvement.
Jun 18, 2026

The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Approach to Maintenance Management: Cooking Dumplings in a Teapot

The authors of this report examine how the rapid growth and modernization of China’s navy inform maintenance management and activities. The authors also discuss factors that shape China’s ability to maintain and sustain its forces.
Jun 17, 2026

Insights and Tools to Improve the Applicant Experience with the Personnel Vetting and Security Clearance Process

The authors examine how applicants experience the U.S. government’s personnel vetting process, identify practical strategies for improving the vetting process experience, and develop tools to help applicants navigate the vetting process.
Jun 17, 2026

Personnel Vetting 101 Applicant Toolkit: Frequently Asked Questions and Common Misperceptions

This annex answers FAQs about the federal personnel vetting process and addresses common misconceptions about foreign contacts, travel, and dual citizenship; drug use; mental health; police records and criminal history; finances; and relationships.
Jun 16, 2026

Understanding Partner Preferences in the Selection of Defense Capabilities: Case Studies Exploring the Selection of Alternatives to U.S. Solutions

Through eight case studies, this report describes the factors that shape a country’s decision to acquire military capabilities and the trade-offs in cost, function, timelines for delivery, and other incentives to select suppliers and systems.
Jun 16, 2026

Setting Special and Incentive Pay Policy in the U.S. Military: An Analytic Framework

Special and Incentive (S&I) pays compensate military members with critical or specialized skills, who perform hazardous duties, or who are assigned to austere locations. The authors developed a framework for understanding and setting S&I pays.
Jun 10, 2026

Flagpole to Front Lines: A Warfighter-Driven Requirements Process

This report describes Flagpole to Front Lines, a strategies-to-tasks approach to linking national security objectives with operational requirements to ensure that the Department of War delivers systems to the field when and where they are needed.
Jun 9, 2026

Navigating Duality in Space: Establishing a Foundational Understanding of Dual-Use Space Activities

This report synthesizes findings from a baseline report, three international stakeholder workshops, and other team engagements to examine the global landscape of dual-use space systems and offers recommendations for future norms.
May 27, 2026

Battle Damage Repair for Arleigh Burke–Class Destroyers: Tabletop Exercise Results

The authors share results from a tabletop exercise evaluating requirements for salvaging and repairing guided missile destroyers in the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on repair capabilities, command-and-control measures, and partner nations’ roles.
May 26, 2026

Challenges When Collaborating with China on Space Research and Technology: Common Practices and Risks

The authors present risks of participating in space sector research with research institutions based in China and share considerations for assessing international research collaboration opportunities.
May 21, 2026

Preparing the Homeland for Great-Power Conflict: WEST ROOK

The WEST ROOK wargame examines how defense and civil authorities can better coordinate and allocate scarce resources during large-scale domestic emergencies.
May 13, 2026

Independent Assessment of the Defense Business Enterprise Architecture

The authors assess the effectiveness of the defense business enterprise architecture as a framework for planning, managing, and integrating defense business systems and its adequacy in informing business process reengineering.
May 7, 2026

Optimizing Defense Requirements Cooperation Among the United States and Its Allies

In this paper, RAND researchers outline the benefits of defense requirements cooperation and analyze how these benefits may be optimized among the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to enhance the effectiveness of combined forces.
May 5, 2026

Force Multipliers in the Americas: Harnessing Security Force Assistance to Bolster Homeland Defense and U.S. Strategic Objectives in Latin America

In this report, the authors outline potential ways to harness the full potential of U.S. Department of War security force assistance activities in Latin America.
May 5, 2026

China's Science and Technology Strategy in Perspective: Historical Evolution, Political Drivers, and Global Implications

In this report, the authors analyze how China conceptualizes science and technology as part of the country's broader national strategy by drawing on a variety of government documents, literature, and international reports.
Apr 28, 2026

Evaluating Large Language Models' Abilities to Process and Understand Technical Policy Reports

The authors detail their development of a specialized benchmark for evaluating large language models' abilities to process and understand technical policy reports, thus addressing a gap in existing domain-specific evaluation.
Apr 28, 2026

The Survivor Benefit Plan Optional Child Annuity Repeal: Impacts and Adverse Effects

The authors discuss the history of the Survivor Benefit Plan, the unintentional consequences of its repeal, and other federal survivor benefit programs, and they recommend actions to ensure impartial treatment of beneficiaries.
Apr 24, 2026

Realizing the Promise of the Drone Revolution: Crosscutting Insights from RAND Research for the U.S. Department of War's Drone Dominance Efforts and Beyond

This paper highlights key technological and other trends driving the drone revolution in the military and civilian sectors. The authors outline obstacles and next steps that the U.S. Department of War can take to leverage these developments.
Apr 23, 2026

China Plans for 'Total War': Developing the Capacity to Defeat the 'Strong Enemy' of the United States

This report examines the CCP's "total war" national security concept, which integrates civilian and military capabilities to counter the United States.
Apr 21, 2026

Fiscal Year 2025 Assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project

The authors draw on existing and new data sources to assess the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) against 14 legislatively prescribed criteria and offer recommendations to improve AcqDemo’s operations.
Apr 16, 2026

AI Implications for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Policy and Programs: A Strategic Analytic Research Agenda

Artificial intelligence is reshaping chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear deterrence, posing new risks and opportunities. This paper outlines a roadmap to guide research and policy on challenges amid rising global technological rivalry.
Mar 31, 2026

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Program Progress in 2024–2025

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program serves young people ages 16 to 18 who risk not completing a high school credential. This report, the tenth in a series of annual updates, covers the program and the participants who entered during 2024.
Mar 31, 2026

Research Security in Science and Technology

This paper describes research security and provides a framework to aid researchers, research institutions, and research funders in identifying, assessing, and managing risks associated with global scientific collaborations.
Mar 30, 2026

The U.S.-Japan Alliance: Today and Beyond

The 12th annual RAND-hosted U.S.-Japan Alliance Series at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles explored the current state and future of the alliance and featured keynote speaker Shotaro Yachi, Japan’s first national security advisor, and expert panelists.
Mar 27, 2026

Implications of Chinese Influence Operations for South Korea and the US-ROK Alliance

Considering Chinese influence operations and their impacts on South Korean security and society.
Mar 25, 2026

Integrating Innovation into U.S. Department of War Requirements Reform

In this report, the authors examine how innovation can be integrated into the U.S. Department of War requirements system and identify how lessons from defense innovation organizations can inform and improve how requirements are developed and matured.
Mar 5, 2026

Workforce Modeling at the Defense Contract Management Agency Provides Useful Estimates and Can Be Improved

RAND researchers assessed the Defense Contract Management Agency’s workforce modeling effort, concluding that it is comprehensive and provides estimates that can reliably inform decisions, but it could be improved with continued development.
Mar 5, 2026

The Defense Contract Management Agency's Resource Workload Model Ecosystem: A Basis for Enhanced Warfighter Support

The authors validate the accuracy and usefulness of the Defense Contract Management Agency's (DCMA's) Integrated Resource Workload Model, which estimates the annual DCMA workload and the number of personnel necessary to carry out that workload.
Mar 4, 2026

Tactical Will to Fight Assessment Guide: A How-To Manual for Conducting Tactical Will to Fight Assessments

The objective of this tool is to improve will to fight (W2F) analysis and assessments. The tool gives analysts (information, intelligence, or otherwise) a structured analytic approach for assessing adversary or partner W2F at the tactical level.
Feb 24, 2026

Assessing the Practical Feasibility of the Clader-Jacobs-Sprouse Quantum Algorithm for Calculating Radar Cross Sections

The authors of this report examine the Clader-Jacobs-Sprouse quantum computing algorithm's potential practical utility for modeling a target's radar cross section.
Feb 23, 2026

Judge Reliability Harness

RAND researchers developed the Judge Reliability Harness, an open-source library that orchestrates standardized, reproducible evaluations of large language model–based judges through systematic perturbation testing and human-in-the-loop validation.
Feb 20, 2026

Pursuing Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration in Gaza: A Critical Pathway to a Durable Peace

The authors propose a disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) framework for Gaza. They also describe the preconditions necessary for a successful DDR program in Gaza, including the link to deradicalization.
Feb 19, 2026

Europe’s Next War: The Rising Risk of NATO-Russia Conflict

As Russia’s war grinds on, NATO unity and European security hang in the balance. A cease-fire may bring renewed confrontation, making it vital to redefine ties with Moscow to avert another major conflict.
Feb 17, 2026

Russia in the High North: Russian Strategy and Escalation Risks in the High North After the Russia-Ukraine War

The enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has changed Russia’s perception of risk in the High North. RAND researchers analyzed escalation scenarios to understand Russia’s priorities and activity in the region after the war in Ukraine.
Feb 17, 2026

Export Controls on Artificial Intelligence and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems: Interagency Challenges

RAND researchers assessed how the United States might create an export control system that balances competition with China and secure proliferation of artificial intelligence and uncrewed aircraft systems.
Feb 12, 2026

AI Security Guide and Risk Assessment Tool

This guide is a practical, risk-based resource for those navigating the artificial intelligence (AI) security landscape. The guide addresses security of AI systems broadly, and the accompanying tool provides tailored recommendations for security controls.
Feb 3, 2026

Duality in Space

RAND researchers discuss the challenges of defining and governing dual-use space systems—technologies that can serve both civilian and military purposes—across geographic regions and political contexts.
Feb 3, 2026

Surveying Duality in Space: Volume II, Europe-Eurasia Workshop Insights on Developing, Deploying, and Governing Dual-Use Space Systems

These proceedings share details on a workshop about dual-use space systems (those capable of performing both civilian and military operations) with space stakeholders from Europe and the Middle East from government, private, and research sectors.
Feb 3, 2026

Surveying Duality in Space: Volume III, Indo-Pacific Workshop Insights on Developing, Deploying, and Governing Dual-Use Space Systems

These proceedings share details on a workshop examining dual-use space systems (those capable of performing both civilian and military operations) that included space stakeholders from the Indo-Pacific from government, private, and research sectors.
Feb 3, 2026

Surveying Duality in Space: Volume I, Americas Workshop Insights on Developing, Deploying, and Governing Dual-Use Space Systems

These proceedings provide details on a workshop examining dual-use space systems (those capable of performing both civilian and military operations) that included space stakeholders from the Americas from government, private, and research sectors.
Jan 29, 2026

Exploring Duality in Space: How Select Countries Approach Dual-Use Space Systems

In this report, the authors present the findings of a literature review in which they examined the landscape of national approaches to dual-use space systems across select countries in the Americas, Europe-Eurasia, and the Indo-Pacific.
Jan 20, 2026

Evaluating Digital Modernization: Enhancing Analytical and Decision Support in Department of Defense Acquisition Management

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is pursuing digital acquisition to leverage digital technologies and methodologies for enhanced acquisition outcomes. This report fulfills a congressional mandate to assess the state of DoD digital acquisition.
Jan 15, 2026

The Chinese Military Is Built for Politics, Not Fighting Wars

China’s military possesses some dangerous weapons, but its ability to outfight the U.S. military is seriously overstated.
Jan 15, 2026

A Comparative Analysis of Choices and Trade-Offs in U.S. Department of Defense and People’s Liberation Army Military Research, Development, and Acquisition Programs: Theory, Method, and Experimental Design

This report summarizes the theory, method, and design driving a comparative assessment of programmatic choices made within the research, development, and acquisition programs of the U.S. Department of Defense and China’s People’s Liberation Army.
Jan 7, 2026

A Networked Leapfrog Strategy to Recapture Technology Leadership

Leapfrogging current-generation technologies to create entirely new paradigms may allow the United States to regain leadership in scientific and technological progress that is one of the foremost elements of the U.S.-China rivalry.
Dec 30, 2025

Supply Chain Uncertainty and Responses: The Case of Ship Bromination Systems

The authors discuss where the supply chain for bromination systems might be vulnerable and identify solutions to potential disruptions. They also examine potentially analogous cases among commodities generated within the defense industrial base.
Dec 30, 2025

Order in Orbit: Operationalizing an International Space Traffic Management Organization

The need for effective international space traffic management has never been more pressing. In this report, the authors provide a roadmap for moving from the existing decentralized context to a common international space traffic management system.
Dec 23, 2025

Clearing Up the Confusion from Misperceptions About the Security Clearance Process

The authors identify common negative perceptions and misperceptions about pursuing a security clearance through the U.S government’s personnel vetting process and offer recommendations for ways in which the government can address them.
Dec 17, 2025

Considerations for Regulating the Commercial Human Spaceflight Market: Lessons for Balancing Market Growth and Public Safety

This report provides the Federal Aviation Administration with an analysis of the potential impacts of implementing a regulatory regime on the emerging commercial spaceflight market.
Dec 11, 2025

Passive Aggressive: Reconsidering the Relevance of Passive Defenses in Major War

The authors of this report develop a framework to use the concept of passive defense in a way that closely aligns Department of Defense efforts with national priorities and can guide necessary transformative change of joint capability development.
Dec 8, 2025

China's National Security: The People's Liberation Army's Shrinking Role in Protecting the Nation's Core Interests

The PLA is unlikely to prioritize war preparations over those aiding national security because doing so would render the military largely irrelevant to the dangers that the party regards as the most threatening.
Dec 4, 2025

Assessment of Military Child Development Program Staffing: Initial Findings Regarding the Workforce

The U.S. Department of War’s Child Development Program has struggled to meet the demand for child care. To understand this issue, RAND researchers assessed factors related to staff recruitment, training, development, compensation, and retention.
Nov 6, 2025

Economic Deterrence in a China Contingency

Economic measures are a potential tool to deter aggression by China, but their success depends heavily on the specific scenario under which they are used, and allies are highly unlikely to join in such measures absent strong U.S. leadership.
Oct 22, 2025

Mission Command with Chinese Characteristics? Exploring Chinese Military Thinking About Command and Control in Future Warfare

The authors of this report explore Chinese military thinking about future command and control, with a specific focus on the prospect of China adopting mission command, in contrast to its traditional centralized command.
Oct 15, 2025

Are We Prepared for the Opening of the Central Arctic Ocean?

RAND researchers have explored how Arctic states and global actors may leverage new maritime access in the Central Arctic Ocean for economic, political, and military purposes.
Oct 15, 2025

China's AI Exports Database (CAIED)

The China AI Exports Database (CAIED) tracks Chinese government-supported development finance projects that utilized or enabled Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in the Global South between 2000 and 2017.
Oct 14, 2025

Incorporating Readiness Considerations into Mishap Classification and Analysis

In this report, the authors present a framework that describes how mishaps might affect U.S. Department of Defense unit readiness and propose approaches to data compilation, analysis, and classification for estimating the readiness impact of mishaps.
Oct 9, 2025

A Snapback Solution for Ukraine: How to Craft Security Guarantees That Kyiv—and Moscow—Will Find Credible

American and European leaders can provide Ukraine with a real postwar guarantee. But to do so, they will have to stick to promises that are credible.
Oct 9, 2025

Suppose They Held a War and Nobody Came: Systemic Approaches to Shared Military Personnel Challenges

Allies and partners of the United States are experiencing military personnel shortages caused by demographic decline, social factors, and economic conditions. In response, RAND researchers discuss eight options for systemic reform.
Oct 8, 2025

How Might NATO Allies Respond if the United States Retrenches from Europe?

This report asks what grand strategies and policy alternatives might gain traction in the second Trump administration and how European allies might respond to those alternatives.
Oct 7, 2025

Vetting of Dual Citizens and Naturalized Citizens for Service in the National Security Workforce: Addressing Complexities, Challenges, and Opportunities Related to the Personnel Vetting Process

The authors of this report examine the challenges and complexities that surround the personnel vetting process for dual or naturalized citizens who are seeking roles in the national security workforce.
Oct 7, 2025

Addressing Common Questions and Concerns from Dual or Naturalized Citizens Regarding the Security Clearance Process

The authors of this document present a reference sheet of key questions and answers about the personnel vetting process for dual or naturalized citizens who are seeking roles in the national security workforce.
Sep 17, 2025

Guidelines for Designing a Ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine War: Best Practices, Lessons Learned, and the Role of Technology

This report provides actionable insights for a durable peace in the Russia-Ukraine war from an analysis of best practices in establishing and maintaining ceasefires, lessons learned from past efforts, and the role of technology in enhancing monitoring.
Aug 26, 2025

Getting the Fundamentals of Cyberspace Force Readiness Right

The authors of this paper discuss findings from analysis of challenges faced by U.S. military Cyberspace Operations Forces and evaluation of alternatives to force development and the presentation of those forces for operational employment.
Aug 14, 2025

Conference Proceedings on U.S.-Indian Security and Defense Industrial Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific

The authors reflect on findings and discussions from, and research related to, an in-person Track II dialogue on U.S.-Indian security and defense industrial cooperation convened by RAND and the Observer Research Foundation in September 2024.
Aug 14, 2025

Reserve Component Duty Status Reform: A New Construct for Activating and Compensating Members of the National Guard and Reserves

RAND researchers, in partnership with a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) working group, propose an alternative construct for reserve component duty statuses to better meet DoD’s needs, especially regarding pay and benefits.
Aug 12, 2025

Reserve Component Duty Status Reform: Analytical Contributions to a New Construct for Activating and Compensating Members of the National Guard and Reserves

This report presents an overview of a proposed construct, including the potential costs and benefits, to overhaul and simplify the current complex duty status system for members of the reserve components (the National Guard and the Reserves).
Aug 12, 2025

A Case Study on the Potential Benefits of Reserve Component Duty Status Reform: The U.S. Department of Defense’s COVID-19 Response

The authors highlight challenges experienced by National Guard and Reserve members during the COVID-19 response mission under the current duty status system and describe how these challenges could be mitigated by a revised duty construct.
Aug 6, 2025

Charting the Cosmos: Operational Astrography for the New Space Era

In this report, the authors build on existing geographical and cartographical precedent to propose four clear astrographic regions: surface environment, near-body space, celestial neighborhood, and deep space.
Aug 1, 2025

Toward a New Grand Design? Reviving Sully's Legacy in European Strategic Thought

This is part of a running series of essays by Iskander Rehman, entitled "Applied History," which seeks, through the study of the history of strategy and military operations, to better illuminate contemporary defense challenges.
Aug 1, 2025

Making Sense of the AI Revolution

In order to understand the profound transformations and boundless potential unleashed by artificial intelligence, we need to expand our own intellectual horizons into the realms of history, the natural world, and even ancient mythology.
Aug 1, 2025

Attrition's Apostle? Reading Vegetius in an Age of Protracted Warfare

This is part of a running series of essays by Iskander Rehman, entitled "Applied History," which seeks, through the study of the history of strategy and military operations, to better illuminate contemporary defense challenges.
Aug 1, 2025

The Battle for Brilliant Minds: From the Nuclear Age to AI

In the global competition to develop artificial general intelligence, developing a carefully tailored and ruthlessly pragmatic approach toward AI talent management will prove critical.
Jul 31, 2025

The U.S.-Japan Alliance Under New Management: Summary of a March 2025 Conference

A RAND conference on what recent leadership transitions mean for the United States, Japan, and their bilateral relationship indicated that the alliance has many strengths, but leveraging them toward combating regional challenges might be difficult.
Jul 30, 2025

The Future of Maritime Presence in the Central Arctic Ocean

The authors of this report explore how Arctic states and global actors may leverage new maritime access in the Central Arctic Ocean for economic, political, and military purposes.
Jul 23, 2025

Opportunities After Midnight Hammer: Charting a Path to Middle East Stability and Prosperity

Testimony presented before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism on July 23, 2025.
Jul 22, 2025

Acquiring Generative Artificial Intelligence for U.S. Department of Defense Influence Activities

Generative artificial intelligence has the potential to improve U.S. Department of Defense influence activities in a number of ways, but it is a tool, not a panacea. Maximizing its potential will take dedicated effort and acquisition innovation.
Jul 22, 2025

Acquiring Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve U.S. Department of Defense Influence Activities

The authors review current U.S. Department of Defense generative artificial intelligence acquisition efforts (focusing on influence activities) and provide recommendations for cost-effective acquisition and development.
Jul 17, 2025

Building Taiwan's Resilience: Insights into Taiwan’s Civilian Resilience Against Acts of War

The authors consider Taiwan’s civilian resilience to a potential act of war by China. They identify key components of Taiwan’s civilian resilience, its strengths and vulnerabilities, and how Taiwan could improve its civilian resilience capabilities.
Jul 17, 2025

United States Navy Force Structure: The Challenge of Global Crisis Response

The author addresses the mismatch between the challenges the U.S. Navy will likely face in the international arena and its force structure and considers potential force structure shortfalls and possible adjustments to force structure development.
Jul 11, 2025

Waiting to Win: The FMS Accountability Gap: Addendum

Document submitted July 9, 2025, as an addendum to testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services on May 15, 2025.
Jul 8, 2025

Balancing Act — How Allies Have Responded to Limited U.S. Retrenchment

RAND researchers examined four cases of limited U.S. retrenchment to understand allies' responses to strategic shifts. If the Trump administration pursues a similar policy, these cases can provide a starting point for predicting possible effects.
Jul 8, 2025

Anticipating Allies’ Responses to U.S. Retrenchment: Lessons from Limited Military Withdrawals During the Cold War

RAND researchers analyze cases of limited U.S. retrenchment from West Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan in the 1960s and 1970s to assess how retrenchment affects the behaviors and perceptions of U.S. allies.
Jun 26, 2025

The Russian Federal Budget 2025–2027

This analysis of the Russian Federal Budget 2025–2027 is intended to help policymakers understand the near-term developments that could affect Russia’s ability to achieve national goals and inform policy options for the United States and its allies.
Jun 26, 2025

Moldova and the Risk of a Russia-Imposed Peace

Testimony presented before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe on June 26, 2025.
Jun 24, 2025

Modernizing Department of Defense Civilian Human Resources: Harnessing AI for Transformative Change

In this report, the authors present potential applications of artificial intelligence to U.S. Department of Defense civilian personnel operations, analyze implementation considerations, and outline key enablers for successful integration.
Jun 23, 2025

Rising Tide: Designing a Game of International Economic Competition

This report documents the design of Rising Tide, a tabletop game designed by RAND gaming experts, that enables players to explore complex economic issues pertaining to the global economic system and international relationships.
Jun 23, 2025

U.S.-China Economic Competition: Gains and Risks in a Complex Economic and Geopolitical Relationship

U.S.-China competition, including economic competition, has come to define U.S. foreign policy since 2017. This report, the first of a four-part series, includes economic and institutional analyses of U.S.-China economic competition.
Jun 23, 2025

Coupled Competition: A Prototype Game to Explore the U.S.-China Relationship

This report documents the design and testing of a game that explores the U.S.-China relationship and whether the relationship can be managed to prevent its competitive dimensions from overshadowing opportunities for mutual gain and security.
Jun 23, 2025

Build Thee More Stately Mansions: Participatory Foresight and the Mid-Century U.S. Economy

This report presents findings from workshops in which participants envisioned possible pathways for the United States economy in 2040 to meet domestic and national security needs in a future characterized by strategic competition with adversaries.
Jun 12, 2025

The US Navy's Uncrewed Future

The emergence of increasingly capable uncrewed technologies may help make the navies of the mid-21st century more effective and risk-tolerant, enabling them to secure the peace for decades to come.
Jun 6, 2025

The U.S.–Japan Alliance Under New Management

To better understand what leadership changes on both sides of the Pacific mean for the U.S.-Japan alliance, this event brought together experts from both the United States and Japan to explore key issues confronting Washington and Tokyo.
Jun 5, 2025

The Challenges of China's Supply Chain Dominance: Posturing the Defense Industrial Base

Testimony presented before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on June 5, 2025.
May 29, 2025

Polish Armed Forces Modernization: A New Cornerstone of European Security?

The authors outline Poland's plans for modernization and expansion of its armed forces and provide a preliminary assessment of where U.S. support might be most useful to maximize the return on this joint investment in deterrence and defense.
May 29, 2025

Littoral Crisis and Conflict: A Scenario for the Information Warfighter Exercise Wargame

This scenario document is a companion to the previously published rulebook for the Information Warfighter Exercise Wargame. The scenario is intended as a resource for anyone considering administering an Information Warfighter Exercise Wargame.
May 27, 2025

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Program Progress in 2023–2024

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program serves young people ages 16 to 18 who struggle to complete their high school credential. This report is the ninth in a series of annual updates and covers the program and participants who entered in 2023.
May 23, 2025

Measuring the Reach of Russia’s Propaganda in the Russia-Ukraine War

RAND researchers examine how some of Russia’s most extremist and most hate-filled narratives related to the Russia-Ukraine war have spread on social-media platforms by looking at which audiences these narratives reach and who is spreading them.
May 22, 2025

An Update on Research Into Operationalizing an International Space Traffic Management Organization

In recent years, little progress has been made in establishing pathways towards an international space traffic management (ISTM) system, despite rapidly growing space traffic, near-misses, and slowly adapting governance frameworks.
May 21, 2025

Russia, Ukraine, and Collective Defence

Despite notable solidarity and unity in the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion and significant progress in rebuilding the Alliance's defence and deterrence architecture, the list of challenges facing the NATO Alliance is significant.
May 21, 2025

Lessons from the War in Ukraine for Space: Challenges and Opportunities for Future Conflicts

The role of space-based services in the war in Ukraine offers important lessons for preparing for events in the space domain. RAND researchers recount the war’s space activities, examine three mission areas, and extract relevant lessons.

Latest NSRD Work

Error

Quality and Patient Safety Review Processes in Military Treatment Facilities and Operational Clinical Services

The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Approach to Maintenance Management: Cooking Dumplings in a Teapot

Insights and Tools to Improve the Applicant Experience with the Personnel Vetting and Security Clearance Process

Personnel Vetting 101 Applicant Toolkit: Frequently Asked Questions and Common Misperceptions

Understanding Partner Preferences in the Selection of Defense Capabilities: Case Studies Exploring the Selection of Alternatives to U.S. Solutions

Setting Special and Incentive Pay Policy in the U.S. Military: An Analytic Framework

Flagpole to Front Lines: A Warfighter-Driven Requirements Process

Navigating Duality in Space: Establishing a Foundational Understanding of Dual-Use Space Activities

Battle Damage Repair for Arleigh Burke–Class Destroyers: Tabletop Exercise Results

Challenges When Collaborating with China on Space Research and Technology: Common Practices and Risks

Preparing the Homeland for Great-Power Conflict: WEST ROOK

Independent Assessment of the Defense Business Enterprise Architecture

Optimizing Defense Requirements Cooperation Among the United States and Its Allies

Force Multipliers in the Americas: Harnessing Security Force Assistance to Bolster Homeland Defense and U.S. Strategic Objectives in Latin America

China's Science and Technology Strategy in Perspective: Historical Evolution, Political Drivers, and Global Implications

Evaluating Large Language Models' Abilities to Process and Understand Technical Policy Reports

The Survivor Benefit Plan Optional Child Annuity Repeal: Impacts and Adverse Effects

Realizing the Promise of the Drone Revolution: Crosscutting Insights from RAND Research for the U.S. Department of War's Drone Dominance Efforts and Beyond

China Plans for 'Total War': Developing the Capacity to Defeat the 'Strong Enemy' of the United States

Fiscal Year 2025 Assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project

AI Implications for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Policy and Programs: A Strategic Analytic Research Agenda

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Program Progress in 2024–2025

Research Security in Science and Technology

The U.S.-Japan Alliance: Today and Beyond

Implications of Chinese Influence Operations for South Korea and the US-ROK Alliance

Integrating Innovation into U.S. Department of War Requirements Reform

Workforce Modeling at the Defense Contract Management Agency Provides Useful Estimates and Can Be Improved

The Defense Contract Management Agency's Resource Workload Model Ecosystem: A Basis for Enhanced Warfighter Support

Tactical Will to Fight Assessment Guide: A How-To Manual for Conducting Tactical Will to Fight Assessments

Assessing the Practical Feasibility of the Clader-Jacobs-Sprouse Quantum Algorithm for Calculating Radar Cross Sections

Judge Reliability Harness

Pursuing Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration in Gaza: A Critical Pathway to a Durable Peace

Europe’s Next War: The Rising Risk of NATO-Russia Conflict

Russia in the High North: Russian Strategy and Escalation Risks in the High North After the Russia-Ukraine War

Export Controls on Artificial Intelligence and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems: Interagency Challenges

AI Security Guide and Risk Assessment Tool

Duality in Space

Surveying Duality in Space: Volume II, Europe-Eurasia Workshop Insights on Developing, Deploying, and Governing Dual-Use Space Systems

Surveying Duality in Space: Volume III, Indo-Pacific Workshop Insights on Developing, Deploying, and Governing Dual-Use Space Systems

Surveying Duality in Space: Volume I, Americas Workshop Insights on Developing, Deploying, and Governing Dual-Use Space Systems

Exploring Duality in Space: How Select Countries Approach Dual-Use Space Systems

Evaluating Digital Modernization: Enhancing Analytical and Decision Support in Department of Defense Acquisition Management

The Chinese Military Is Built for Politics, Not Fighting Wars

A Comparative Analysis of Choices and Trade-Offs in U.S. Department of Defense and People’s Liberation Army Military Research, Development, and Acquisition Programs: Theory, Method, and Experimental Design

A Networked Leapfrog Strategy to Recapture Technology Leadership

Supply Chain Uncertainty and Responses: The Case of Ship Bromination Systems

Order in Orbit: Operationalizing an International Space Traffic Management Organization

Clearing Up the Confusion from Misperceptions About the Security Clearance Process

Considerations for Regulating the Commercial Human Spaceflight Market: Lessons for Balancing Market Growth and Public Safety

Passive Aggressive: Reconsidering the Relevance of Passive Defenses in Major War

China's National Security: The People's Liberation Army's Shrinking Role in Protecting the Nation's Core Interests

Assessment of Military Child Development Program Staffing: Initial Findings Regarding the Workforce

Economic Deterrence in a China Contingency

Mission Command with Chinese Characteristics? Exploring Chinese Military Thinking About Command and Control in Future Warfare

Are We Prepared for the Opening of the Central Arctic Ocean?

China's AI Exports Database (CAIED)

Incorporating Readiness Considerations into Mishap Classification and Analysis

A Snapback Solution for Ukraine: How to Craft Security Guarantees That Kyiv—and Moscow—Will Find Credible

Suppose They Held a War and Nobody Came: Systemic Approaches to Shared Military Personnel Challenges

How Might NATO Allies Respond if the United States Retrenches from Europe?

Vetting of Dual Citizens and Naturalized Citizens for Service in the National Security Workforce: Addressing Complexities, Challenges, and Opportunities Related to the Personnel Vetting Process

Addressing Common Questions and Concerns from Dual or Naturalized Citizens Regarding the Security Clearance Process

Guidelines for Designing a Ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine War: Best Practices, Lessons Learned, and the Role of Technology

Getting the Fundamentals of Cyberspace Force Readiness Right

Conference Proceedings on U.S.-Indian Security and Defense Industrial Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific

Reserve Component Duty Status Reform: A New Construct for Activating and Compensating Members of the National Guard and Reserves

Reserve Component Duty Status Reform: Analytical Contributions to a New Construct for Activating and Compensating Members of the National Guard and Reserves

A Case Study on the Potential Benefits of Reserve Component Duty Status Reform: The U.S. Department of Defense’s COVID-19 Response

Charting the Cosmos: Operational Astrography for the New Space Era

Toward a New Grand Design? Reviving Sully's Legacy in European Strategic Thought

Making Sense of the AI Revolution

Attrition's Apostle? Reading Vegetius in an Age of Protracted Warfare

The Battle for Brilliant Minds: From the Nuclear Age to AI

The U.S.-Japan Alliance Under New Management: Summary of a March 2025 Conference

The Future of Maritime Presence in the Central Arctic Ocean

Opportunities After Midnight Hammer: Charting a Path to Middle East Stability and Prosperity

Acquiring Generative Artificial Intelligence for U.S. Department of Defense Influence Activities

Acquiring Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve U.S. Department of Defense Influence Activities