Kan armén dansa asfaltstango? Behovet av träning och övning för den urbana stridens utmaningar

Sammanfattning

Urban operations remain a recurring feature of contemporary armed conflict, while developing capability for combat in urban environments continues to present challenges. This study examines how Swedish Army officers perceive the extent to which training and exercises for combat in urban environments address operational demands. The study draws on qualitative interviews analysed through thematic analysis within an interpretive framework. The findings indicate broad awareness among officers of the operational importance and complexity of urban environments. However, this awareness is not consistently reflected in training and exercise practice. Combat in urban environments is seldom integrated into larger exercises, progression beyond basic levels is limited, and the civilian dimension is rarely incorporated systematically. Leadership priorities and exercise structures shape what is implemented in practice. The study contributes an empirically grounded account of how organisational factors influence the development of capability for combat in urban environments within the Swedish Army.