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| Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies | |
|---|---|
| Name | Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies |
| Native name | Центр анализа стратегий и технологий |
| Abbreviation | CAST |
| Formation | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Moscow |
| Region served | Russia, Eurasia |
| Leader title | Director |
Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies is a Moscow-based independent analytical organization focused on defense, security, and arms trade analysis with emphasis on Russian and Eurasian post-Soviet states, NATO, United States, European Union relations. Founded in the late 1990s during the aftermath of the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and the First Chechen War, it sought to inform policy debates involving Vladimir Putin, Boris Yeltsin, Sergey Shoygu, and other actors in regional security policy circles. The centre has engaged with international institutions such as Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, International Institute for Strategic Studies, RAND Corporation, and Jane's Information Group.
The organization was established in 1997 amid shifts following the 1994 Moscow Accords, the political environment shaped by Yeltsin administration, and the evolving North Atlantic Treaty Organization expansion that included debates over 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and later 2004 enlargement of NATO. Early work intersected with analysts connected to Russian Academy of Sciences, veterans of the Soviet Armed Forces, and advisors formerly attached to the Ministry of Defence (Russia) and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Throughout the 2000s the centre published analyses relevant to the Russo-Georgian War, surveillance of Sukhoi Su-27, Tupolev Tu-160, procurement controversies tied to companies like United Aircraft Corporation and Almaz-Antey, and commentary related to leaders such as Dmitry Medvedev.
The centre describes its mission as providing open-source research on arms transfers, defense procurement, and strategic trends affecting actors including Russia, Ukraine, China, India, and Turkey. Activities include publishing case studies on systems like the S-400, the T-90, and the MiG-29; offering briefings for delegations from European Parliament, staffers from U.S. Department of Defense, and members of think tanks like Brookings Institution and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. It runs conferences and seminars attended by representatives of Rosoboronexport, analysts from China National Defence University, and journalists from outlets such as Kommersant and The Moscow Times.
Publications encompass periodicals, monographs, and databases tracking procurement programs, inventories, and export deals involving firms like Rostec, United Shipbuilding Corporation, KAMAZ, and investigations into platforms such as Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate and Yasen-class submarine. Projects have included datasets on arms exports to countries such as Syria, Iran, Vietnam, and Egypt and thematic studies paralleling research by SIPRI and IISS. The centre’s outputs have been cited in analyses by journalists from The New York Times, commentators at Financial Times, and reports produced by Congressional Research Service.
The institution is typically organized into research departments covering topics like armored vehicles, naval programs, aerospace systems, and arms trade, staffed by analysts formerly associated with Moscow State University, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and alumni from Gerasimov Institute. Leadership includes a director, editorial board, and program managers who liaise with international partners such as Chatham House and research networks including European Council on Foreign Relations.
Funding has been reported to derive from subscription sales, consultancy contracts, research grants, and collaborative projects with organizations including OSCE, European Commission, and Western foundations linked to institutes like Atlantic Council. Partnerships have involved joint events with IISS, data-sharing with SIPRI, and commissioned studies for parliaments of states such as France, Germany, and Poland.
The centre’s analyses have informed reporting on major events like the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, the Donbas conflict, and procurement debates during the Russian military reform (2008) cycle. Its work is cited by policymakers in Sejm, commentators in Der Spiegel, and defense journalists writing for Jane's Defence Weekly. Reception ranges from praise for detailed open-source research by scholars at King's College London to scrutiny by critics concerned about ties between analysts and industrial actors such as Sukhoi and Almaz-Antey.
Notable figures associated with the centre include founding and senior analysts with backgrounds linked to institutions like Higher School of Economics (Russia), editors contributing to journals such as Nezavisimaya Gazeta, and collaborators who previously worked within ministries and research institutes including the Institute of World Economy and International Relations. Directors and senior researchers have participated in international conferences alongside representatives from Pentagon, European External Action Service, and academic conferences convened by Harvard Kennedy School.
Category:Research institutes in Russia Category:Think tanks based in Russia