Military Strategy and Doctrine:

Analyzing the strategic goals, operational plans, and tactical approaches of different military forces.

Foundational Texts in Strategy & Doctrine

U.S. Military Doctrine & Publications

Allied & International Doctrine

Weapons Systems Analysis:

Evaluating the effectiveness, capabilities, and vulnerabilities of weapons systems, including traditional arms and emerging technologies. 

Foundational Texts & Methodologies

  • Blanchard, Benjamin S. – Logistics Engineering and Management: Classic on system lifecycle, sustainment, and analysis.

  • Ebeling, Charles E. – An Introduction to Reliability and Maintainability Engineering: For system survivability and sustainment.

  • MORSE & RAND methodologies – Cost-effectiveness analysis, comparative systems evaluation, and operations research applications.

  • George E. Pugh – Weapons Analysis: Traditional reference for applying operations research to military systems.

U.S. Military & Government Sources

  • Department of Defense (DoD) Test & Evaluation Reports – Annual DOT&E reports evaluate major weapons programs.

  • Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports – Public analyses of U.S. weapons programs, procurement, and modernization (searchable on Congress.gov).

  • Defense Acquisition University (DAU) – Training modules and reference materials on weapons system lifecycle and analysis.

  • U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Pamphlets – Threat-based assessments and capabilities development.

  • Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Army Futures Command, and Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) – Program-specific technical reports.

International & Industry Sources

  • NATO STO (Science and Technology Organization) – Research papers on weapons systems performance, interoperability, and emerging tech.

  • UK Ministry of Defence Equipment Plan – Annual report on current and future weapons acquisitions.

  • IHS Jane’s (now Janes) – Weapons Systems Reference Library (authoritative open-source data on capabilities and systems worldwide).

  • The Military Balance (IISS) – Annual authoritative reference on global military hardware and force structures.

  • Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) – Data on arms transfers, weapons trends, and global inventories.

Think Tanks, Research Centers & Journals

  • RAND Corporation – Deep studies on system effectiveness, survivability, and force integration.

  • Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) – High-level analysis of future weapons and concepts.

  • Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) – Missile defense, naval systems, airpower reports.

  • Federation of American Scientists (FAS) – Open-source weapons profiles, particularly on WMDs and missile systems.

  • Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) – Public technical research archive for U.S. defense projects.

  • Air & Space Power Journal, Naval War College Review, Parameters – Professional military journals with weapons systems analysis articles.

Key Focus Areas in Weapons Systems Analysis

These sources support structured study in:

  • Effectiveness & Survivability – How well the system performs under combat conditions.

  • Lethality & Precision – Weapon’s destructive power vs. accuracy.

  • Range & Mobility – Reach and deployability.

  • Reliability & Maintainability – Sustainment in the field.

  • Cost & Efficiency – Value vs. alternatives.

  • Integration – Interoperability with other systems and joint/coalition forces.

  • Adversary Systems – Comparative analysis with foreign weapons.

Intelligence Analysis:

Assessing threats from foreign nations, terrorist groups, and other actors, including analyzing their intentions, capabilities, and vulnerabilities. 

Key Focus Areas in Military Intelligence Analysis

These sources support structured study in:

  • Strategic Intelligence – Understanding adversary intent & national-level capabilities.

  • Operational Intelligence – Campaign-level assessments (force movements, logistics, terrain).

  • Tactical Intelligence – Unit-level targeting, ISR feeds, HUMINT.

  • Adversary Doctrine – How opponents view and use intelligence.

  • Analytic Tradecraft – Structured techniques, red teaming, avoiding bias.

  • Technology & ISR – Satellites, drones, SIGINT, OSINT, cyber-intelligence.

Foundational Texts & Methodologies

  • Richards J. Heuer Jr. – Psychology of Intelligence Analysis (CIA, 1999) → Classic on cognitive biases, structured analytic techniques.

  • James Shufelt – An Introduction to Intelligence Research and Analysis → Practical primer on intelligence process & tradecraft.

  • Sherman Kent – Strategic Intelligence for American World Policy (1949) → Foundational work on national-level intelligence.

  • Treverton, Gregory – Reshaping National Intelligence for an Age of Information → Focus on adapting analysis to modern threats.

  • Lock K. Johnson & James J. Wirtz – Strategic Intelligence: Windows into a Secret World → Overview of intelligence structures and practices.

U.S. Military Doctrine & Guidance

  • Joint Publication (JP) 2-0: Joint Intelligence → Core doctrine for U.S. military intelligence.

  • JP 2-01: Joint and National Intelligence Support to Military Operations → How intel integrates into campaigns.

  • Army Field Manuals (FM) & Army Techniques Publications (ATP):

    • FM 2-0: Intelligence (framework for Army intel ops).

    • ATP 2-01: Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB).

  • Marine Corps Doctrinal Publications (MCDP):

    • MCDP 2: Intelligence.

  • Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) → Open-source assessments, global military capability briefs.

  • National Intelligence Council (NIC) → Global Trends reports for strategic forecasting.

Allied & International Doctrine

  • NATO Allied Joint Publication (AJP-2): Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Security Doctrine.

  • UK Ministry of Defence – JDP 2-00: Understanding and Intelligence Support to Joint Operations.

  • Australian Defence Force – ADDP 2.0: Intelligence.

  • Canadian Forces Joint Publication (CFJP) 2.0: Intelligence.

Adversary Perspectives (Translated/Accessible)

  • Russia:

    • Military Thought journal (English translations via U.S. Foreign Military Studies Office).

    • Russian GRU/KGB historical analysis works.

  • China:

    • PLA’s Science of Military Strategy (2013, 2020 editions – English translations).

    • PLA writings on Military Intelligence (various translations by U.S. Army War College).

  • Iran & DPRK:

    • Translations and reports from the Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO) and Congressional Research Service.

Think Tanks, Research Centers & Journals

  • RAND Corporation → Studies on intelligence reform, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance).

  • CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) → Analysis of intelligence in great-power competition.

  • IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies) → The Military Balance and threat assessments.

  • CNA (Center for Naval Analyses) → Operational and intelligence-focused research.

  • Federation of American Scientists (FAS) → Declassified documents, intel community reports.

  • National Security Archive (GWU) → FOIA-released intelligence records.

  • Studies in Intelligence (CIA journal) → Articles on analytic tradecraft and history.

  • Journal of Strategic Studies / Intelligence and National Security → Peer-reviewed academic analysis.

Defense Systems Analysis:

Applying analytical techniques to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of complex defense systems. 

Key Focus Areas in Defense Systems Analysis

  • Effectiveness & Survivability – How well systems perform under combat conditions.

  • Cost, Schedule, and Risk – Lifecycle acquisition challenges.

  • Integration & Interoperability – How systems work across services and allies.

  • Technology Trends – AI, robotics, hypersonics, space, cyber.

  • Adversary Systems – Comparative analysis of Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and DPRK defense programs.

Foundational Methodologies & Texts

These works explain the frameworks behind evaluating defense systems:

  • George E. Pugh – Weapons Analysis → Classic methodology for systems assessment.

  • Blanchard, Benjamin S. – System Engineering Management → Lifecycle systems engineering approach.

  • Charles E. Ebeling – Introduction to Reliability and Maintainability Engineering → Core concepts of system survivability and dependability.

  • Operations Research / Systems Analysis (ORSA) textbooks (various authors) → The backbone of analytical approaches to defense systems.

  • Military Operations Research Society (MORS) → Conferences, journals, and study resources on defense systems modeling.

U.S. Government & Military Sources

  • Department of Defense (DoD) – Defense Acquisition Guidebook → Framework for acquisition, lifecycle, and systems evaluation.

  • DOT&E (Director, Operational Test & Evaluation) → Annual DOT&E Reports on performance and operational testing of major defense programs.

  • Defense Acquisition University (DAU) → Training materials and case studies on defense systems analysis.

  • GAO (Government Accountability Office) – Weapon Systems Annual Assessments (cost, schedule, performance reviews).

  • Army Futures Command & TRADOC Pamphlets → Capability development and systems evaluation frameworks.

  • Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Army Research Lab (ARL) → Technical studies and systems engineering research.

Allied & International Sources

  • NATO Science & Technology Organization (STO) → Research on interoperability, systems performance, and future capabilities.

  • UK MoD – Defence Equipment Plan (annual reports).

  • European Defence Agency (EDA) → Capability development planning documents.

  • Australian Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) → Studies on defense systems and integration.

  • Canadian Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) → Technology and systems assessments.

Counterintelligence:

Analyzing threats to national security from foreign intelligence services and other actors. 

Key Focus Areas in Counterintelligence Study

  • Counterespionage – Identifying and neutralizing spies.

  • Insider Threats – Protecting against betrayal within organizations.

  • Defensive CI – Protecting sensitive programs from penetration.

  • Offensive CI – Double agents, deception operations, and disinformation.

  • Adversary CI – Understanding how Russia, China, Iran, and DPRK conduct CI.

  • Cyber CI – Digital-age espionage, supply chain security, and cyber-enabled insider threats.

Foundational Texts & Tradecraft

  • James M. Olson – Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying → Written by a former CIA CI chief; practical and ethical insights.

  • James M. Olson – To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence → A practitioner’s guide to CI strategy and methods.

  • Christopher Andrew – Defend the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5 → Authoritative account of UK counterintelligence.

  • Richard H. Kerr (ed.) – Studies in Intelligence: Counterintelligence Anthology → CIA’s declassified essays on CI.

  • James Jesus Angleton papers (various collections) → Insights from the controversial CIA CI chief during the Cold War.

U.S. Doctrine & Government Sources

  • DoD Instruction 5240.23 – Counterintelligence Activities → Governing policy for DoD CI operations.

  • Army Field Manuals & Doctrine:

    • FM 2-22.2: Counterintelligence (Army CI doctrine).

    • ATP 2-22.2: Counterintelligence Analysis.

  • Air Force Instruction (AFI) 71-101 – Air Force Counterintelligence guidance.

  • Marine Corps CI/HUMINT Manual (MCWP 2-6) → CI and HUMINT integration.

  • Office of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) – Annual National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States.

  • FBI – Counterintelligence Program → Publicly available overviews of ongoing CI priorities (China, Russia, insider threats).

  • Senate and House Intelligence Committee Reports → Public CI-related assessments and oversight.

Allied & International Doctrine

  • NATO AJP-2.2: Allied Joint Doctrine for Counterintelligence.

  • UK MI5 (Security Service) – Public reports on CI and counterespionage cases.

  • Canadian Forces – CFJP 2.2: Counterintelligence.

  • Australian Defence Force – ADDP 2.2: Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Security.

  • Israeli Counterintelligence (Shin Bet, Mossad) – Limited open-source, but referenced in academic works on espionage.

Adversary Perspectives

  • Russia:

    • Military Counterintelligence in Russia (FMSO translations).

    • KGB and FSB historical records, analyzed in works like Christopher Andrew & Vasili Mitrokhin’s The Mitrokhin Archive.

  • China:

    • PRC Ministry of State Security writings (translations via Jamestown Foundation & U.S. Army War College).

    • PLA’s Science of Military Strategy (sections on political warfare & counterespionage).

  • Iran & DPRK:

    • Reports from CRS, DIA, and FMSO analyzing CI/espionage methods.

Think Tanks, Research Centers & Journals

  • RAND Corporation – Analyses on insider threats, espionage, and security practices.

  • Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) – CI aspects of cyber and influence operations.

  • Jamestown Foundation – Reports on adversary intelligence/counterintelligence (especially Russia & China).

  • National Security Archive (GWU) – Declassified U.S. and Soviet CI records.

  • Studies in Intelligence (CIA journal) – Academic-style articles on CI tradecraft and case studies.

  • Intelligence and National Security (academic journal) – Peer-reviewed work on counterintelligence history and policy.