The Institute of Warfare at the Swedish Defence University is a collaborative arena for research, development, and education focused on modern warfare.
Its activities are guided by the needs of military defence and are intended to strengthen Sweden’s defence capability by developing knowledge, methods, and military capabilities.
Collaboration for military capability development
The Institute’s activities are based on close cooperation between the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence University, and external partners such as the defence industry and other relevant stakeholders.
By bringing together different areas of expertise within a common structure, favourable conditions are created for identifying needs, developing solutions, and putting results into practice. The strategic direction is determined through a joint council in which key stakeholders contribute to prioritisation, implementation, and follow-up.
How we work
The work is carried out in a flexible, project-based format in which different areas of expertise collaborate. The initiatives cover the land, maritime, air, and space domains, as well as cross-cutting areas such as artificial intelligence, innovation, and multi-domain operations.
Applied research and analysis
Activities include:
- applied research and analysis
- wargaming and scenario-based studies
- seminars, workshops, and educational initiatives
- development of concepts and methods for future warfare
Long-term capability development
The aim is to deliver tangible results that contribute to operational development, education, and long-term capability development.
Photo: Joel Thungren/Försvarsmakten
Photo: Hannes Holmström/Försvarsmakten
Projects and activities
Within the framework of the Institute’s activities, projects and initiatives are carried out that connect research with practical application, for example:
- development of analytical wargames to evaluate military capabilities and concepts
- studies of experiences from ongoing conflicts and their significance for Swedish defence capability
- projects in artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and multi-domain operations
- collaborative initiatives in which identified needs are translated into concrete solutions in cooperation with government agencies and the defence industry
Organisation
The Institute of Warfare is organised as an integrated and flexible entity within the Swedish Defence University, in close cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces and external partners.
The Institute’s activities are structured around several centres focusing on different military domains and areas of expertise, including land, maritime, air, space, and cross-cutting areas such as cyber and multi-domain operations. Within each centre, research, development, and collaborative projects are conducted based on current needs.
Each centre is headed by a director and organised into working groups that drive activities forward within their respective fields. The work is carried out through close collaboration between different areas of expertise and stakeholders, both within and outside the Swedish Defence University.
Overall coordination is managed through the Institute’s leadership, where the Director of the Institute, Colonel Anders Palmgren, is responsible for strategic direction and overall coherence, in dialogue with a strategic council that contributes to the prioritisation and follow-up of activities.
Contact
Do you have questions about the Institute of Warfare?
Get in touch with: ifk@fhs.se
Contact
Image information: The top image on the page was taken by Björn Westerdahl/the Swedish Armed Forces.