Docent Dr Mikael Weissmann

Hybrid Threats | Psychological Defence | Strategic Intelligence | Technology & Defence | Modern Warfare | Urban Warfare | Staff Rides | Wargames | China and the Indo-Pacific | the Balkans | Central Asia

Tag: land warfare Page 1 of 2

New Article: Fågel Fenix: Divisionens strid och taktik i en nutida operativ kontext

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On 1 May 2026

In Land Warfare, Publication, Russia, War Games, Wargames

I am pleased to share a new article co-authored with Lt Col Dr Lars Henåker, published in Kungl. Krigsvetenskapsakademiens Tidskrift, the journal of The Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences. The article appears in issue no. 1/2026, which is a theme issue focusing on the army.

In “Fågel Fenix: Divisionens strid och taktik i en nutida operativ kontext” [Phoenix Rising: Division-level Combat and Tactics in a Contemporary Operational Context], we examine the renewed relevance of the division as a command level in the Swedish Army. Against the background of Sweden’s NATO membership, the war in Ukraine, and the increasing complexity of contemporary land warfare, the article asks what the division adds beyond the brigade level and how it can be used in combat.

The article, written in Swedish, examines the renewed relevance of the division as a command level in the Swedish Army. Against the background of Sweden’s NATO membership, the war in Ukraine, and the increasing complexity of contemporary land warfare, we ask what the division adds beyond the brigade level and how it can be used in combat.

Drawing on observations from the Swedish Army Staff Exercise 2022 (ASÖ22), the article analyses division-level command and tactics through eight tactical elements: deployment, aggressive reconnaissance, manoeuvre, breakthrough, high tempo, surprise, shock, and organisational breakdown. We argue that the division has re-emerged as a critical level for coordinating brigades, enabling manoeuvre, sustaining combat power, and creating the conditions for decisive action in a complex operational environment.

Reference:
Henåker, Lars and Weissmann, Mikael, “Fågel Fenix: Divisionens strid och taktik i en nutida operativ kontext”, Kungliga Krigsvetenskapsakademiens Tidskrift, no. 1, 2026, pp. 52–75. Full text.

Lecture on Hybrid Threats and Future Security Challenges at the Swedish Guards Regiment

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On 17 April 2026

In Hybrid Threats, Intelligence Analysis

On 26 April 2026, I had the pleasure of giving a lecture at Dragondagarna at the Swedish Guards Regiment on hybrid threats, hybrid warfare, and how future threat environments affect security and intelligence services as well as the Swedish Armed Forces more broadly.

The lecture focused on the grey zone as the normal condition for contemporary strategic competition, the growing importance of AI and emerging technologies, and the need to focus not only on threat actors but also on the vulnerabilities they may exploit.

A key message was that resilience, collaboration, and the ability to understand and act in the information environment will be central to meeting future hybrid threats.

Many thanks to the Guards Regiment for the invitation!

New publication: Fältövningshandboken: Att planera och leda en fältövning

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On 15 March 2026

In Land Warfare, Professional Military Education (PME), Publication, Staff Ride, Staff Ride, Teaching and Learning, Wargames

I am pleased to share our new updated and expanded staff ride handbook, Fältövningshandboken: Att planera och leda en fältövning (2026, in Swedish), co-authored with Major Jonas Björkqvist and Major Patrik Wiklund.

The handbook explores field exercises as a central pedagogical tool in officer education. It brings together historical perspective, pedagogy, planning, and execution, and is structured in four modular parts covering:

  1. the field exercise as a method and learning tool,
  2. pedagogical design and constructive alignment,
  3. preparation and planning, and
  4. execution, including hybrid formats and the integration of wargaming.

The book is intended as a practical guide for planning and leading field exercises in professional military education, and for strengthening the link between educational objectives, historical cases, and applied military learning.

Availible as a pdf here: https://doi.org/10.62061/mcji4602/

New Role: Acting Director at the Swedish Defence University Land Warfare Centre

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On 1 September 2025

In Land Warfare

I am honoured to share that I have taken up the position of Acting Director of the Swedish Defence University Land Warfare Centre.

The Land Warfare Centre is a key part of the Swedish Defence University Institute for Warfare.

More updates to come as the work progresses.

New Article Published: Staff Rides in Professional Military Education

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On 9 March 2025

In Professional Military Education (PME), Publication, Staff Ride, Staff Ride, Teaching and Learning, War Games, Wargames

A new article, co-authored with Major Jonas Björkqvist of the Swedish Defence University, has been published in Contemporary Military Challenges.
🔹 Title: Staff Rides in Professional Military Education: Fusing History, the Modern Battlefield, and the Battlefield of the Future
🔹 Journal: Contemporary Military Challenges
🔹 Keywords: Staff rides, war games, professional military education, battlefield study


Abstract
This article examines the critical role of staff rides in professional military education (PME), emphasizing their ability to bridge historical military events with modern and future operational realities. It introduces a structured hybrid staff ride model that ensures relevance for today’s military leaders.
Key Insights from the Study:
✔️ The Hybrid Model – A structured approach balancing historical analysis with contemporary and future operational demands.
✔️ Pedagogical Planning Model – A framework for designing staff rides that ensures learning objectives are aligned with practical field activities.
✔️ Integration of War Games – A fully merged model combining staff rides and war games to enhance decision-making and problem-solving skills.
✔️ Historical Personas for Deeper Engagement – Assigning historical figures to participants, helping them immerse themselves in battlefield decision-making.
✔️ Comparison of Staff Ride Models – A review of international approaches, providing valuable insights for PME institutions worldwide.
These insights reinforce staff rides as essential tools for developing critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills in military education.
📖 Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.2478/cmc-2024-0028

Affiliated with the Swedish Defence University’s Centre for Wargaming

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On 15 December 2024

In Land Warfare, Professional Military Education (PME), Staff Ride, Staff Ride, Teaching and Learning, War Games, Wargames

As of 1 December, I am pleased to share that I have become an Affiliated Researcher with the Swedish Defence University Centre for Wargaming (CWG). The CWG is dedicated to advancing wargaming-based education, research, and methodology, providing valuable support and expertise to both the academic community and the broader security sector. I look forward to contributing to their efforts and engaging with colleagues and partners in this field.

More information on the centre can be found here: https://www.fhs.se/en/swedish-defence-university/collaboration/specialized-centres/center-for-wargaming.html

Presentation on War Games and Staff Rides in PME at the ISMS Annual Conference 2024

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On 9 September 2024

In Conference, Professional Military Education (PME), Staff Ride, Staff Ride, Teaching and Learning, Urban Warfare, War Games

From 10-12 September, the Swedish Defence University is hosting the International Society of Military Sciences (ISMS) Annual Conference 2024, with the theme “Scaling up, Learning Lessons, Ensuring Quality.”

I am excited to present Major Jonas Björkqvist and my own on “From the Battlefield to Classroom: Incorporating War Games and Staff Rides in Professional Military Education (PME) to Enhance Urban Combat Preparedness.“

This presentation focuses on integrating war games and staff rides into military education, both in general and in relation to improving preparedness for urban combat scenarios. I am looking forward to engaging with fellow experts and sharing innovative ideas during the conference.

Presentation on Urban Warfare and Ukraine at the ISMS Annual Conference 2024

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On 9 September 2024

In Conference, Land Warfare, Urban Warfare

From 10-12 September, the Swedish Defence University is hosting the International Society of Military Sciences (ISMS) Annual Conference 2024, with the theme “Scaling up, Learning Lessons, Ensuring Quality.”

I am pleased to present on “Reevaluating Urban Warfare: Lessons and Strategies from the Ukraine Conflict” together with Prof. Douglas W. Winton from the Dwight D Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, US.

This presentation explores critical lessons from the Ukraine conflict and proposes strategic insights to rethink urban warfare in the light of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

I look forward to discussing these findings and contributing to the broader conversation on war studies, operations and tactics during the conference.

International Society of MilitarySciences Conference 2024

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On 6 September 2024

In Conference, Hybrid Threats, Intelligence Analysis, Land Warfare, Professional Military Education (PME), Psycological Defence, Russia, Staff Ride, Staff Ride, Teaching and Learning, Urban Warfare

From 10-12 September the Swedish Defence University is host for the International Society of Military Sciences (ISMS) Annual Conference 2024. This years theme is “Scaling up, Learning Lessons, Ensuring Quality.”

I am co-chairing WG 1: War Studies, Operations and Tactics with LtCol Dr Lars Henåker. The program contains a range of interesting papers and presentations on the themes WAR IN UKRAINE, OPERATIONAL ARTS AND STRATEGY, INFORMATION SPACE AND THE COGNITIVE FRONTIERS OF WARFARE, and HYBRID/PRIVATE/AI. Conference Program

I am presenting three papers:

“Reevaluating Urban Warfare: Lessons and Strategies from the Ukraine Conflict” co-authored with Prof. Douglas W. Winton of the Dwight D. David Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, US.

“From Battlefield to Classroom: Incorporating War Games and Staff Rides in Professional Military Education (PME) to enhance Urban Combat preparedness” co-authored with
Major Jonas Björkqvist of the Land Operations Division, Department of War Studies, Swedish Defence University

“Operationalizing Psychological Defense: A framework for assessing, addressing and evaluating hybrid threats in democratic societies”, discussing the findings of the report Building Resilience and Psychological Defence – An analytical framework for countering hybrid
threats and foreign influence and interference which I have co-authored with Björn Palmertz, Lund University Psychological Defence Research Institute, Docent Niklas Nilsson, Swedish Defence University and Dr Johan Engvall, Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies.

Tentative Field Study – the Battle of Ortona and Four Perspectives on Urban Warfare

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On 15 January 2024

In Land Warfare, Professional Military Education (PME), Staff Ride, Staff Ride, Urban Warfare

On 3-7 January 2024 Major Jonas Björkqvist (Land Operations Division) and I conducted a tentative field study studying the Battle of Ortona 1943 and Orsogna, Villa Rogatti och Sterlin Castle. The aim is to enhance the inclusion of urban warfare in our teaching, staff ride & wargame repertoire. The study is part of curriculum development projects for the Swedish Officers Program and the Joing Higher Command and Staff program.

We are now working on a staff ride field guide with the title The Battle of Ortona: Four Perspectives on operations in urban terrain to be published later this year.

Major Björkqvist is also developing a new card-driven map-based war game on the Battle of Ortona to be used in connection with future staff ride to Ortona as part of Professional Military Education (PME) with a focus in particular on officer cadets and senior officers.

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