About
The Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), founded in 1997, is a leading Russian defense industry and arms trade think tank. Its main print publication is the Eksport Vooruzheniy (Arms Exports) journal. The first issue came out in 1997.
In 2002, CAST launched the Periscope, a Russian daily media digest, and in 2004 – the Moscow Defense Brief, an English-language magazine. In 2008 CAST also began publishing books, including the well-received "The Tanks of August", a collection of articles about the August 2008 events in South Ossetia (CAST, 2010) and "Elite Warriors: Special Operations Forces From Around the World" (East View Press, 2017).
CAST also offers consultation, analysis and information services to Russian government agencies, defense industry companies, banks and investment institutions.
CAST does not receive any financing from the government, commercial companies or other organizations. All its funding is derived from research and media products, consultation services and other projects. In that sense, CAST is a commercial venture, and its success depends entirely on the quality of the services it offers to customers.
Management
CAST is led by Ruslan Pukhov (Director). He has earned a reputation as leading expert on the Russian defense industry and arms trade. His professional commentary can often be found in the Russian and foreign press, on the radio and on television. In 2007, Ruslan Pukhov became a member of the Public Council under the Russian Defense Ministry.