In 2021, the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy announced that the UK will increase its cap on the number of operational nuclear warheads that it has available. Previously, the UK had committed to only maintaining 225 warheads and was working to reduce that number down to 180. Now, however, the UK can keep 260 warheads in its nuclear arsenal. This raises various questions. Why is the UK acting in opposition to the non-proliferation treaty? What threats have emerged to warrant this increase in WMDs? Is Nuclear war becoming more likely? And do more nuclear weapons make nuclear war less likely? Thankfully, we have Dr Matthew Harries (RUSI) on the show to discuss these very pertinent questions and explain the rationale behind the UK's decision to increase the cap on its nuclear warheads.

The Falklands War of 1982 - or the Falklands Conflict, if you prefer, as war was never formally declared - saw Britain launch a task force to recapture the islands after Argentine forces had invaded. Not only was it a huge effort to simply project force down in the south Atlantic 8,000 miles from the UK mainland, but on top of that, British forces had to launch an amphibious assault on the other side globe, and then defeat Argentine soldiers dug in at Port Stanley (the islands' capital) in battle. But through what was a tremendous, if impromptu, joint endeavour between Britain's three services, the task force was able to recapture the islands within ten weeks after Argentina's initial invasion.  This episode with Dr Ben Jones (University of Portsmouth) considers how British forces were able to achieve this incredible victory and how important air power was to that success. Tomorrow (14 June 2022) marks 40 years since Argentine forces surrendered at Port Stanley ending a war that took 255 British lives, 649 Argentinians, and 3 Falkland Islanders, and so we felt it appropriate to include an episode to commemorate the occasion.

With the swift fall of Kabul in 2021, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, can NATO continue to deter adverse behaviour against member states? Moreover, how can NATO respond to the European Union's growing purview, or China's increasing influence as a major superpower? These are some of the thought provoking questions that will be addressed in today's show.  This episode features Dr Dominika Kunertova (Center for Security Studies Zurich) discussing how recent events and geopolitics have shaped NATO's cohesion and outlook. She points out the NATO has perhaps overstretched itself over the past 15-20 years, and needs to focus more on its primary objective - collective defence - at the expense of secondary missions like crisis management and stability beyond its borders. Dr Kunertova also considers how air power and enhanced missile capabilities, in particular, will prove crucial assets for the military alliance going forward.

When was the first space war? A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away perhaps? Not quite. It was actually much closer to home. In fact, the first Gulf War in 1991 is often regarded as 'the first space war'. Why? Because it was the first conflict in which space power provided a significant advantage, especially to tactical operations.  With the advent of the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellites offered a means of navigation not previously available. Given that much of the fighting took place in uncharted desert, this was of huge importance in guiding US forces to their designated target. But space based systems also ensured that the US Army weren't beholden to line of sight communications either, giving them another sizeable advantage over Iraqi forces.  In today's show, we have Colonel Ronan Ellis (ret. US Army), talking to us about his experiences as Commander of US Army Space Command before and during the Gulf War. Colonel Ellis was literally the person responsible for creating the doctrine and practices that gave us the first space war, so you won't find many people better qualified to discuss space power in the Gulf War!

With cyber becoming a bit of a buzz word at the moment, there is much hype surrounding the potential capabilities and advantages that operating in and from cyberspace can offer. But what sort of activities even constitute a cyber attack? What does cyber warfare actually look like? And most importantly, are offensive cyber operations legal under the law of armed conflict?  In today's show, we have Dr Heather Harrison Dinniss (Swedish Defence University) discussing how far - and indeed if - international law can regulate cyber operations. She also explores the ongoing attempts to come to some sort of consensus among the international community regarding the use of cyber space. In doing so, Dr Harrison Dinniss provides a really useful way of thinking about how cyber warfare can be compared to conventional forms conflict. 

Ever wondered how Putin rose to power in Russia? Or why we hear so much about Russian Oligarchs in the news? Or why Russia believes it has a right to govern or influence politics in eastern Europe? This episode is for listeners wanting an introduction into Russian politics or anybody after more context behind Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine. In this episode, Dr Natasha Kuhrt (King's College London), an expert on Russian relations, examines some of the reasons behind Putin's constant use of intimidation on the international stage and why Russia has become such a belligerent power, which is essential if we are to understand why Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. People are beginning to talk of a second Cold War - sometimes between the US and China - but the term is also occasionally used to refer to tensions between the west and Russia. If we are to understand European security, therefore, we must understand what is escalating these tensions and why Russia is becoming increasingly aggressive.

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, the 1st Viscount Trenchard, served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) for a hundred days in 1918, and was later reappointed to this position in 1919. Trenchard was to then serve as CAS for over ten years during which time he was instrumental in maintaining the survival of the Royal Air Force against staunch opposition to the idea of an independent air force. During his tenure, Trenchard laid the foundations for much of the RAF's development during the run up to the Second World War, and very much created the culture and sense of identity within the RAF that endure to this day. Despite being initially opposed to the creation of an independent air force, while he commanded the Royal Flying Corps on the Western Front in 1917, Trenchard's influence during the 1920s has often led to him being styled as the 'Father of the Royal Air Force'. Today we have Dr Sophy Antrobus (King's College London) on the show. Sophy served in the RAF for twenty years as an Air Operations Officer and has since undertaken a PhD during which she researched the early politics of air power during the inter war period. 

With space increasingly in the news because of the potential for conflict in and from space, we decided to learn more about the capabilities of space power and the implications of space warfare. Today's episode is with Dr Bleddyn Bowen (University of Leicester) who gives us a fantastic insight into why space power should always be implemented within conventional strategy and political objectives, and why we should move away from exaggerated expectations about what can be achieved in and from space.  Bleddyn wrote the highly regarded book, War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics, and here discusses the likelihood of space war.

In this episode, we will be hearing from Professor Peter Gray (University of Wolverhampton) about how Air Power thinking has evolved over the past century. Professor Gray gives us a great overview of some of the ways in which Air Power has been used successfully, the inherent limitations and difficulties in using Air Power, as well as answering the all-important question: which is the most important role of air power?  Professor Gray retired from the Royal Air Force after 36 years of service during which time he rose to the rank of Air Commodore. He also served as Director of Defence Studies, and has since taught Air Power studies at Birmingham and Wolverhampton Universities. So he knows a thing or two about Air Power!