Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) was established in 2001 as an autonomous defence research and analysis body for research and focused analyses on issues related to national security, defence, and aerospace issues in the evolving strategic and international security environment. Its objective is to facilitate greater understanding of these issues amongst the Armed Forces, the strategic community and the public besides contributing to policy generation and decision-making.

CAPS is governed by a Trust, named Forum for National Security Studies, an independent non-profit, non governmental body. The Board of Trustees which guides the activities of CAPS, is headed by Shri MK Rasgotra, former Foreign Secretary as Chairman, Capt. Ajay Singh, Former Sr. Vice President-Regulatory Compliance Jet Airways and Capital Indigo Airlines, managing Trustee and comprises, Shri Sanjaya Baru Editor–in–Chief Business Standard and former Press Advisor to the Prime Minister, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Bharat Kumar, Air Marshal Anil Chopra, Director General of CAPS, Shri. Parthasarathy, IFS; Chancellor, Central University of Jammu; Former High Commissioner to Pakistan, Australia, Air Marshal Sandeep Singh Vice Chief of the Air Staff IAF, Secretary Defence (Finance).

CAPS has a multidisciplinary faculty with rich expertise in security and defence fields, who undertake quality research work in analysing the complex multi – dimensional trends in warfare, with special focus on air and space power, its deployment for civil and military purposes, doctrines and strategies, and non-traditional security issues of environment, energy security and military history.

CAPS research faculty comprises senior retired and serving Armed Forces officers from the three services besides academic scholars from national universities and retired members from the diplomatic community. CAPS also conducts brief orientation capsules for Armed Forces and officers of security and technological organisations.