May 18, 2023
In 2021, a team of CNS researchers published a study of Russian military innovation in the missile sector. Among other insights, it revealed that at least five of Russia’s so-called novel delivery systems were based, to varying degrees, on Soviet research and development (R&D) efforts. On the basis of these findings, this team began work on Project Resurrection: Forecasting Russian Military Innovation in fall 2022 with the goal of identifying other once-promising, but discontinued, Soviet weapons programs that the current leadership in Russia could resurrect in the near-to-midterm. These efforts resulted in a database of over fifty legacy Soviet R&D efforts that Russia may revisit in its current resource-constrained environment, as well as in-depth case studies of two Soviet-era ASAT systems that could be candidates for revival.
This seminar outlines the methodology behind Project Resurrection and describe its major results to date. It also covers other possible applications of the project approach and avenues for further research.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction by the moderator, Dr. William Potter, Director, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar Professor of Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies
06:45 Presentation by Mr. Michael Duitsman, Research Associate, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies
23:11 Comments by Dr. Nikolai Sokov, Senior Fellow, Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
30:36 Comments by Dr. Hanna Notte, Senior Research Associate, Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
36:46 Comments by Ms. Sarah Bidgood, Director, Eurasia Nonproliferation Program, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies
