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Military Equipment

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Cost growth in the development and fielding of technologically advanced military equipment has become a major economic burden for many nations and is expected to be an enduring and prevalent problem. RAND research has provided cost analyses and recommendations to help policymakers and military leaders develop improved cost-estimating tools and formulate policies that mitigate cost growth in weapon system acquisition practices.

Report

The United States Needs More Polar Icebreakers

Dec 8, 2020

Icebreaking is important for maintaining polar presence amid increasing global interest in the Arctic and Antarctic. Only two U.S. cutters are capable of operating in heavy polar ice, and both have limited life spans. What should the Coast Guard consider as it builds new icebreakers?
Report

Analysis of Global Management of Air Force War Reserve Materiel to Support Operations in Contested and Degraded Environments

Jan 14, 2021

The Air Force's current system of war reserve materiel management is positioned more for efficiency than effectiveness. What do case studies reveal about the trade-offs and best practices for a centralized versus decentralized management approach?

Explore Military Equipment

Commentary

Nuclear Strategists Know How Dangerous the Debt Fight Is

Nuclear-war strategists' work offers a warning for Congress: The more times a game is played, the more treacherous it becomes, because when both sides believe catastrophe will always be averted in the end, each behaves more rashly. In the debt-ceiling dispute, the United States could end up defaulting precisely because each side keeps waiting for the other to blink.

Nov 29, 2021
Journal Article

Overview of the Jack Rabbit II (JR II) Field Experiments and Summary of the Methods Used in the Dispersion Model Comparisons

This paper summarizes the Jack Rabbit II chlorine release trials conducted at the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground in 2015 and 2016 and provides on overview of comparisons of 17 widely used dense-gas dispersion models using the JR II data.

Nov 23, 2021
Report

Graph Theoretic Algorithms for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Program: Prioritization and Scheduling

The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program is large and complex and has many interdependent tasks that must proceed efficiently. The authors of this report present novel methods to help program managers avoid rework and reduce schedule risk.

Nov 8, 2021
Blog

North Korea, Sexual Violence in the U.S. Military, America's Labor Shortage: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on dealing with a nuclear North Korea, preventing sexual violence in the military, supporting immigrant children in U.S. schools, and more.

Nov 5, 2021
Report

A Realistic Approach for Dealing with North Korea's Nuclear Weapons

Pursuing the unachievable goal of convincing North Korea to surrender its nuclear weapons can only complicate the real challenge of managing a nuclear-armed North Korea. The United States and its allies should instead focus on deterrence and a series of negotiated agreements to control further development.

Nov 3, 2021
Blog

Nuclear Deterrence, COVID-19 and Infant Deaths, Criminal Justice Reform: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on why the United States doesn’t need more nuclear weapons, increased infant deaths during the pandemic, preventing veteran suicide, and more.

Oct 22, 2021
Commentary

Reducing the Role of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Could Make North Korea Happy

The threats emanating from North Korea pose a useful case study for the potential implications of reducing the role of U.S. nuclear weapons. Additional U.S. nuclear deterrence declaratory strategy, backed up by appropriate nuclear weapon capabilities and planning, may be needed.

Oct 20, 2021
Commentary

The U.S. Doesn't Need More Nuclear Weapons to Counter China's New Missile Silos

There's little reason for the United States to worry much about whatever the Chinese military is building in hundreds of new missile silos in China. America and its allies have ways to counter any threats these silo fields pose.

Oct 18, 2021
Commentary

North Korea's 'Business as Usual' Missile Provocations

North Korea has revved up its cycle of missile provocations, its go-to method of securing leverage against the United States and South Korea in the on-again off-again nuclear negotiations. How will the United States and South Korea choose to respond?

Oct 14, 2021
Report

Global Mobility: Future Force Design 2040

This study identifies the likely changes that will arise in global mobility requirements for UK Armed Forces between now and 2040. It also outlines a range of options to deliver global mobility in dynamic threat and policy environments.

Oct 14, 2021
Research Brief

Achieving Global Mobility: Future Force Design 2040

This research brief highlights the likely changes that will arise in global mobility requirements for UK Armed Forces between now and 2040. It also outlines a range of options to deliver global mobility in dynamic threat and policy environments.

Oct 14, 2021
Report

Lessons from COVID-19 Infections on U.S. Navy Ships

The U.S. Navy's handling of the early COVID-19 outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt revealed some cracks in the service's readiness to respond to major medical events. The relative lack of severe consequences in this instance should not prevent the Navy from reviewing those shortfalls and their implications for readiness.

Sep 21, 2021
Report

AI Tools for Military Readiness

Readiness is integral to national security, and key to its management is its measurement. The authors show how artificial intelligence can improve the detail and accuracy of the U.S. military's readiness reports.

Sep 20, 2021
Report

Supporting the Royal Australian Navy's Strategy for Robotics and Autonomous Systems

The Royal Australian Navy has embarked on an ambitious plan to modernise its maritime capabilities to support Australia's defence strategy. What should the Navy consider when developing its robotics, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence strategy?

Sep 14, 2021
Commentary

Japan's Potential Acquisition of Ground-Launched Land-Attack Missiles: Implications for the U.S.-Japanese Alliance

If Japan acquired ground-based strike capabilities, it would have significant consequences for the U.S.-Japanese alliance. American and Japanese policymakers may need to have a new and expanded set of conversations about how such capabilities would be used and how the alliance could adjust to incorporate them.

Sep 9, 2021
Report

Data Rights Relevant to Weapon Systems in Air Force Special Operations Command

The Air Force needs better access to contractors' technical data to sustain core military aircraft assets and subsystems. For this to happen, the U.S. government needs the appropriate license rights and actual possession of the data.

Sep 2, 2021
Report

Army Theater Fires Command: Integration and Control of Very Long-Range Army Fires

The U.S. Army is developing a new generation of surface-to-surface fires with very long ranges. To help with integration, the Army proposed creating the Theater Fires Command, which will need to operate as part of a joint force.

Aug 30, 2021
Report

Engaging with North Korea: Lessons from Game Theory

Applying game theory to the situation in North Korea may provide insights into how the United States can deal with Kim Jong-un and carry out negotiations on denuclearization.

Aug 12, 2021
Report

Opportunities for the Brazilian Navy to Employ Additional Unmanned Systems

This Perspective is an exploration of some of the ways the Brazilian Navy could use unmanned systems to improve effectiveness and, potentially, reduce risks and costs while meeting a wide range of demands over vast and diverse geographic areas.

Aug 10, 2021
Journal Article

Written Evidence Submitted by RAND Europe: SPDF0020 Space Defence

This document provides RAND Europe's submission of evidence in relation to the UK House of Commons Defence Select Committee's July 2021 call for evidence on space defence.

Jul 30, 2021

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