This article reviews Z. Lautsch’s monograph “The Foundations of NATO Operational Thinking. A Retrospective Analysis of Operational Thinking in the 80s and Assessment of Development Prospects”. A brief introduction to the author is given. His approaches to the basic concepts defi ning operational thinking as a complex phenomenon are reviewed. It is noted that the author uses the points of view of both Western and Soviet military science in his refl ections. The author analyses Z.