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: Modern Warfare

New Open Access Book: Russia’s War in Ukraine and Modern Warfare

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On 27 July 2026

In Intelligence Analysis, Land Warfare, Modern Warfare, Publication, Russia, Urban Warfare

I am delighted to announce the publication of Russia’s War in Ukraine and Modern Warfare: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology, co-edited with Dr Niklas Nilsson and published by Oxford University Press.

Russia’s war in Ukraine is a defining conflict of our time and a watershed in the evolution of modern warfare. It has challenged established assumptions about how wars are fought, sustained, commanded and understood. Our new volume brings together leading scholars and practitioners to examine what the war reveals about both the enduring nature and changing character of warfare.

The book combines thematic analysis with detailed case studies. Its chapters examine:

  • manoeuvre warfare and urban warfare;
  • mission command and command and control;
  • military logistics and health services;
  • air and maritime warfare;
  • force generation and military training;
  • intelligence collection and sharing;
  • drones and other emerging technologies;
  • military learning and adaptation;
  • gender and the Ukrainian armed forces; and
  • key phases of the war between 2014 and 2025.

The volume is structured around four parts: dimensions of modern warfare; organisation, technology and training; chronological case studies; and a concluding assessment of the wider lessons of the war.

In addition to co-editing the volume, I co-authored three chapters:

The book is published Open Access and can be read or downloaded free of charge through Oxford Academic.

Read and download the complete book

The print paperback edition will be published on 30 August 2026 and can be ordered from Oxford University Press.

Reference

Weissmann, Mikael and Niklas Nilsson, eds. Russia’s War in Ukraine and Modern Warfare: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2026.
https://doi.org/10.1093/9780198970903.001.0001

Lecture at NATO Defence College: The Land Domain

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On 19 May 2026

In Conference, Land Warfare, Modern Warfare, Visit

On 18 May 2026, I had the pleasure of giving a lecture at the NATO Defence College in Rome for NATO Senior Course 148 on “The Land Domain: The changing character of war and trends in the land warfighting domain.”

The lecture focused on key trends in contemporary land warfare, including the return of high-intensity industrial war, the increasing transparency of the battlefield, the growing role of drones and artillery, multi-domain pressure on land forces, electronic warfare, urban warfare, and the implications of adversaries disregarding the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law.

I also discussed emerging developments in land-domain technology and tactics, including UAS, electronic warfare, armour adaptation, robotics, AI-enabled decision support, precision fires, digitalisation, and uncrewed ground systems. The lecture concluded with an assessment of NATO’s land warfighting strengths and areas of concern, including readiness, air defence, industrial capacity, MDO implementation, rear-area resilience, and manpower.

Many thanks to the NATO Defence College for the invitation and for a very good discussion.

Lecture at NATO Defence College: The Changing Character of War

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On 25 November 2025

In Conference, Land Warfare, Modern Warfare, Visit

On 25 November 2025, I had the pleasure of giving a lecture at the NATO Defence College in Rome for the NATO Senior Course on “The changing character of war: Trends in the Land Warfighting Domain.”

The lecture addressed strategic trends in modern land warfare, new developments in land-domain techniques and technology, and NATO’s and its member states’ land warfighting capabilities.

Many thanks to the NATO Defence College for the invitation and for a very good discussion.

New Publication: Staff Ride Handbook – The Battle of Ortona 1943

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On 18 October 2025

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

By Major Jonas Björkqvist & Docent Dr Mikael Weissmann
Swedish Defence University Report Series 2025:6
DOWNLOAD | Open Access

This new handbook presents a comprehensive framework for conducting staff rides and field exercises on the Battle of Ortona (1943)—a historical case offering vital lessons for modern urban warfare. Combining history, wargaming, and pedagogy, it introduces a hybrid model linking tactical and operational insights from past battles with today’s and tomorrow’s conflicts.

Designed for Professional Military Education (PME), it provides practical guidance, thematic modules, and an integrated card-driven wargame to strengthen decision-making and leadership in complex urban operations.

Read the publication (Open Access): FULL TEXT

Launching new website for the Hybrid Threat Resaerch Group (HTRG) – hybridthreatsresearch.com

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On 18 July 2025

In Hybrid Threats, Intelligence Analysis, Psycological Defence, Russia, Urban Warfare

The Hybrid Threats Research Group is an interdisciplinary initiative based at the Swedish Defence University, linking scholars and practitioners from political science, strategic communication, war and defence studies, cybersecurity, influence operations, intelligence, and area studies. Our mission is to advance the capacity to identify, analyse and respond to hybrid threats—where conventional and unconventional tactics converge to test social, political and technological resilience.

Guided by a steering group, and supported by a worldwide network of affiliates, we foster international collaboration to build knowledge that supports governments and key societal actors.

Our research focuses on five interconnected themes:

  1. Modern Warfare – examining how technological change reshapes conflict and defence strategy.
  2. Hybrid Threats – exploring the blended tactics of state and non-state actors that erode traditional defence mechanisms.
  3. Strategic Intelligence – strengthening the collection, analysis and application of intelligence to anticipate threats.
  4. Psychological Defence – building societal resilience against disinformation and influence operations across peace, crisis and war.
  5. Defence Systems – bridging social science and engineering to integrate technical and human factors in effective defence solutions.

Through targeted research projects, workshops and seminars, HTRG provides a creative environment for research training, professional development and evidence-based policy advice. We welcome collaboration with academia, government, and industry partners committed to understanding and countering the complex security challenges of today’s interconnected world.

The new website can be found here: https://www.hybridthreatsresearch.com

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.

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