Command – Leadership – Management: Ein integratives Führungsmodell für militärische und zivile Organisationen

[Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Organisationspsychologie (GIO), 12.03.2026, Patrick Hofstetter, Florian Demont und Sarah von Felten]

Das 2023 entwickelte und im Januar 2025 in der Strategie der Gruppe Verteidigung offizialisierte Führungsmodell Command – Leadership – Management ist nun erstmals in einem peer-reviewten Zeitschriftenartikel systematisch dargestellt und theoretisch eingeordnet. Der Beitrag beschränkt sich dabei nicht auf eine Modelldarstellung. Im Sinne einer induktiv-konzeptionellen Fallstudie argumentiert er explizit, weshalb und wie sich dieser Ansatz aus dem militärischen Kontext auch auf zivile Organisationen übertragen lässt. Was in der Schweiz aufgrund der engen gesellschaftlichen Einbettung der Armee vielfach selbstverständlich erscheint, muss im umliegenden Ausland erst plausibilisiert und begründet werden. Genau diesen Nachweis versucht der vorliegende Artikel zu leisten.

Link (open access): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11612-026-00870-3

Evolution of Russian Tactics

[YouTube: War Archive, 26.12.2025]

By breaking down the Russian invasion of Ukraine into five phases, War Archive shows how the Russian Armed Forces adapted over time. In the beginning they attempted a decapitation strike aimed mainly at the capital Kyiv in what War Archive calls a “Modernized Blitzkrieg”. As this failed due to unexpected Ukrainian resistance and a lack of air superiority, in May 2022 the Russian armed forces shifted their approach to rely less on manoeuvre and more on an artillery “Wall of Fire”. These artillery-enabled advances then ground to a halt as Ukrainian deep-strikes (such as with HIMARS) targeted the logistics needed for such high artillery firing rates. Having attempted to outmanoeuvre and outgun their opponent, in late 2022 the Russians then shifted their focus to relying on infantry assaults mostly constituted by Wagner troops. As Wagner was disbanded, the regular Russian Armed Forces incorporated Wagner’s infantry-heavy approach and added limited mechanised elements to it. Since mid-2024, they now rely on infiltrating Ukrainian-held positions in small teams. Whereas most teams are quickly eliminated, sheer numbers mean that some are inevitably successful in eroding Ukrainian defences over time, as seen in Russia’s capture of the centre of Pokrovsk in December 2025. Apart from this analysis, War Archive posts other videos where he analyses specific battles of the War in Ukraine in detail. Most notably, his video about the Battle for Hostomel Airport allows the viewers to study how Russian forces attacked and why their plan of enabling an air bridge to Hostomel ultimately failed.

Link Tactics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6MfjV2vsdg

Link: Hostomel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Ji7KqqEqg

From Relic to Relevance: Why Obsolete Weapons Still Win Modern Wars

[Modern War Institute, 13.11.2025, Lukáš Dyčka]

The Bundeswehr retired its Gepard air defence systems in 2010. 12 years later Germany exported Gepard systems to Ukraine, where they proved very capable of defending against Russian Shahed/Geran drones. This article highlights how «obsolete» platforms «may be one adversary or one type of terrain away from renewed relevance.» With European armed forces facing the possibility of a long war and hence being in need of redundancies and deep stockpiles, the author wants armed forces to stop calling weapon systems obsolete and to «Start asking what problems they can still solve».

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/from-relic-to-relevance-why-obsolete-weapons-still-win-modern-wars/

Le Polemarque

[La Chouette Librairie]

Une librairie en ligne française moins connue, la Chouette Librairie, propose une sélection ciblée d’ouvrages en études stratégiques, histoire militaire, éthique militaire et leadership. Son catalogue comprend des œuvres influentes de figures telles que Guisan, Rommel et Fuller, entièrement en français.

Link: https://www.lachouettelibrairie.com/editeur/le-polemarque/

Is Europe Too Soft to Fight?

[War on the Rocks, 28.10.2025, Florence Gaub, Roderick Parkes]

Gaub and Parkes warn that as governments see their population as unwilling and too soft to fight, they risk a self-fulfilling prophecy. They argue that instead of a fixed category, the «will to fight» should be treated as societal potential that can be both suppressed or cultivated.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/10/is-europe-too-soft-to-fight/

The Case for Treating Drones as Ammunition

[War on the Rocks, 21.11.2025, Zachary Griffiths, Jeff Ivas]

Griffiths and Ivas argue that the US Army will not scale small drones successfully if it continues to manage them like durable equipment. Drawing on Ukraine’s high consumption rates and rapidly growing production, they frame small quadcopters and first-person view drones as inherently expendable, closer in cost and turnover to mortar rounds than to “aircraft”. The author’s proposal is straightforward: classify small aerial drones as conventional ammunition, switch from brand-based procurement to role-based “drone families” (recon, FPV, etc), standardise controllers, and use simulators in addition to live drones to lower drone attrition during training.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/11/the-case-for-treating-drones-as-ammunition/

Über das «Update Führung»

Das Update Führung ist eine wiederkehrende Rubrik des Newsletters Leader’s Digest. Dieser Newsletter entsteht in Kooperation des Leadership Campus der Schweizer Armee und der Dozentur Führung und Kommunikation der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich. Wenn Sie Leader’s Digest noch nicht abonniert haben, finden Sie unter folgendem Link weitere Informationen sowie das Formular zur Anmeldung.

Falls Sie Lesenswertes zu Command, Leadership oder Management entdecken, würden wir uns freuen, wenn Sie dies mit uns teilen. Gerne nehmen wir Tipps für die kommende Ausgabe von Leader’s Digest via leadersdigest@leadershipcampus.ch entgegen.

Bulletin 2025 zur Schweizerischen Sicherheitspolitik

[CSS ETH, 2025, Lucas Renaud, Daniel Möckli et al.]

Das Bulletin 2025 zur Schweizerischen Sicherheitspolitik liefert eine Bestandesaufnahme angesichts der aktuellen globalen sicherheitspolitischen Entwicklungen. Es beleuchtet unter anderem die Bedeutung eines «Drohnen-Ökosystems» für die Schweiz, die Notwendigkeit der Weiterentwicklung des Bevölkerungsschutzsystems sowie die Rolle der Schweiz als Vorsitz in der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE). Zudem analysiert es die Herausforderungen und Chancen, die sich für das Labor Spiez aus dem Wandel des Umfelds und dem technologischen Fortschritt ergeben. Eröffnet wird das Bulletin mit einem Interview mit Bundesrat und VBS-Vorsteher Martin Pfister.

Link: https://css.ethz.ch/publikationen/bulletin-zur-schweizerischen-sicherheitspolitik/details.html?id=/b/u/l/l/bulletin_2025_on_swiss_security_policybu

Realising Societal Resilience for a Whole of Society Approach to Defence

[RUSI, 14.10.2025, Katharine A.M. Wright]

Open and democratic societies are inherently vulnerable to information warfare: influencing citizens’ votes can give foreign actors leverage over what should be domestic decisions. But resilience against disinformation is only one dimension of societal resilience—a broad concept spanning everything from citizens’ critical thinking to universities training enough doctors for potential mass-casualty events, to education that gives young adults a basic grasp of security policy and resilience. Wright argues that effective societal resilience depends on strong trust in government and on people feeling safe rather than preoccupied with other pressures. From this perspective, she highlights the UK’s housing and health crises as key factors undermining societal resilience.

Link: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/realising-societal-resilience-whole-society-approach-defence

Why Mechanized Warfare Will Still Be Decisive in the Next Land War

[War on the Rocks, 02.01.2026, Scott Rutter, Matthew C. Paul]

Rutter and Paul argue that the war in Ukraine shows mechanised forces are not obsolete: they remain essential for seizing and holding ground. Their effectiveness, however, depends on operating within a “window of advantage”. On a sensor-saturated, drone-rich battlefield, tanks work only when commanders create brief windows through deception, ISR, electronic warfare, rapid breaching, and tightly synchronised fires. Platform upgrades alone are therefore insufficient. The authors call for shifting emphasis toward unmanned systems, EW, ISR, AI-enabled command and control, and logistics that can sustain short, violent mechanised thrusts.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/why-mechanized-warfare-will-still-be-decisive-in-the-next-land-war/

Ten Jolting Takeaways from Trump’s New National Security Strategy

[War on the Rocks, 05.12.2025, Rick Landgraf]

This article gives a quick summary of the new National Security Strategy of the US, released in November 2025. Apart from being influenced by US domestic politics, it highlights how the strategy seeks to prioritise US influence in the Western hemisphere over influence in other regions, in what has been called the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, or the “Donroe Doctrine”. In regards to Europe, the prioritisation of the Western hemisphere goes hand-in-hand with the US attitude towards European defence changing from an attempt at burden-sharing to burden-shifting.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/ten-jolting-takeaways-from-trumps-new-national-security-strategy/

Faster Wars, Smarter Minds: Driving the Army’s Quiet Cognitive Revolution

[War on the Rocks, 02.09.2025, Milford Beagle Jr.]

Beagle’s core claim is that battlefield technology is advancing faster than human cognition can keep up—so building cognitive capacity is as important as investing in new systems. He frames AI as “additional intelligence”: a tool for synthesis and pattern-finding that expands what staffs can see and process, not an automatic decision-maker or a substitute for responsibility. The article argues that US professional military education is being redesigned to build that cognitive edge—by strengthening adaptive and creative thinking, using AI-enabled tools to personalise learning, and accelerating doctrinal updates. The aim is leaders who ask better questions, critically test machine outputs, and integrate new capabilities ethically and effectively.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/09/faster-wars-smarter-minds-driving-the-armys-quiet-cognitive-revolution/

A Secure Europe Between Gaullism and ‘Daddy’

[CEPA, 08.07.2025, Roland Freudenstein]

Europe faces an aggressive neighbour in the East and a transatlantic partner that is unpredictable at best—and hostile at worst. Against this backdrop, Freudenstein argues that Europe should choose neither an anti-American, Gaullist path nor subservience to the US. Instead, he claims the most responsible course lies between these two extremes.

Link: https://cepa.org/article/a-europe-secure-between-gaullism-and-washington/

Über das «Update Führung»

Das Update Führung ist eine wiederkehrende Rubrik des Newsletters Leader’s Digest. Dieser Newsletter entsteht in Kooperation des Leadership Campus der Schweizer Armee und der Dozentur Führung und Kommunikation der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich. Wenn Sie Leader’s Digest noch nicht abonniert haben, finden Sie unter folgendem Link weitere Informationen sowie das Formular zur Anmeldung.

Falls Sie Lesenswertes zu Command, Leadership oder Management entdecken, würden wir uns freuen, wenn Sie dies mit uns teilen. Gerne nehmen wir Tipps für die kommende Ausgabe von Leader’s Digest via document.getElementById(«email-obfuscator-leadersdigest»).innerHTML=»R-Znvy».replace(/[a-zA-Z]/g,function(c){return String.fromCharCode((c=(c=c.charCodeAt(0)+13)?c:c-26);});[Aktivieren Sie JavaScript, um die E-Mail-Adresse anzuzeigen] entgegen.

Stratos 2/2025

[Schweizer Armee, 30.10.2025]

Das neue Stratos ist da! Diese Ausgabe des zweimal jährlich erscheinenden Magazins der Schweizer Armee beschäftigt sich mit Human Security (HUMSEC). Durch die veränderte geopolitische Lage und die zunehmende Urbanisierung der Schweiz gewinnt der Schutz der Zivilbevölkerung in einem potenziellen bewaffneten Konflikt an Bedeutung. Insbesondere lesenswert ist hierzu das Interview mit Brigadier Christian Arioli (S. 88), aber auch die Beiträge zu Führungskonzepten der Schweizer Armee im internationalen Vergleich (S. 43), Leistungsoptimierung und Substanzmissbrauch in der Armee (S. 50), zivil-militärischer Zusammenarbeit (S. 95) sowie Bevölkerungsschutz im bewaffneten Konflikt (S. 102).

Link: https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/stratos

Sechs Jahre an der Frontlinie der Verantwortung

[Schweizer Armee Podcast, 02.12.2025]

In diesem Gespräch spricht der ehemalige Chef der Armee, KKdt Thomas Süssli, offen darüber, wie er diese Jahre erlebt hat: über Entscheidungen unter Druck, über Kritik und Verantwortung, über Momente der Unsicherheit und darüber, was gute Führung in schwierigen Zeiten ausmacht. KKdt Süssli schildert die grösste Mobilmachung der jüngeren Geschichte der Schweizer Armee, erzählt vom Morgen des 24. Februar 2022, von der Herausforderung, stets präsent zu sein und von der Kunst, im richtigen Moment innezuhalten. Zugleich zeigt er, warum Realismus, Vorbereitung und eine starke Milizarmee unverzichtbar sind.

Link: https://youtube.com/watch?v=eOs0pV3fFTo

Risk and Resilience Report: The Strategic Value of Civil Protection Exercises

[CSS ETH, 09.2025, Jurgena Kamberaj, Simon Aebi]

Civil protection exercises are usually treated as operational training, but this report argues they also have strategic value, for example by creating political momentum for reforms. For the Swiss Armed Forces, exercises are one of the few practical ways to test and improve the state of information sharing, logistics and civil-military cooperation.

Link: https://css.ethz.ch/en/publications/risk-and-resilience-reports.html

The World in 2026

[Chatham House, 15.12.2025, Orysia Lutsevych]

This big-picture report of a British think tank considers 14 factors which are likely to shape 2026. They range from wars and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to AI, Trump, health, nuclear weapons and political polarisation. Without a doubt, reading this wide-angle article will help its reader understand and compartmentalise the developments to occur in 2026.

Link: https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2025-12/world-2026

The Battle of Shusha City and the Missed Lessons of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War

[Modern War Institute, 14.07.2021, John Spencer, Harshana Ghoorhoo]

This case study looks at the battles over control of the city of Shusha/Shushi in the Southern Caucasus. The city is situated on a hill and surrounded by mountainous terrain. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have strong cultural ties to the city. After the Soviet Union broke apart, Armenia took control of the city in 1992. Azerbaijani forces launched an offensive on the Karabakh/Artsakh region in 2020, and the city changed hands. This article investigates the reasons that made the Armenian defences fail and what made the Azerbaijani offensive succeed and thereby provides valuable lessons on the conduct of urban warfare.

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/the-battle-of-shusha-city-and-the-missed-lessons-of-the-2020-nagorno-karabakh-war/

Strategic Competition in the Age of AI — Emerging Risks and Opportunities from Military Use of Artificial Intelligence

[RAND, 06.09.2024, James Black et al.]

In this comprehensive, 144-page RAND report, the authors investigate the risks and opportunities that come with integrating AI into the armed forces. The authors note that by facilitating deep fakes, enabling non-state actors and through managing nuclear arsenals, the application of AI in defence could potentially have catastrophic consequences. To guard against this threat, the authors suggests that knowledge of AI’s risks should be more thoroughly researched, and awareness of AI’s risks should be increased. Moreover, reminiscent of arms control, the authors suggest that military AI use should be transparent and regulated on an international scale. The link leads you to a summary page, there you can download the full report.

Link: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3295-1.html

Über das «Update Führung»

Das Update Führung ist eine wiederkehrende Rubrik des Newsletters Leader’s Digest. Dieser Newsletter entsteht in Kooperation des Leadership Campus der Schweizer Armee und der Dozentur Führung und Kommunikation der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich. Wenn Sie Leader’s Digest noch nicht abonniert haben, finden Sie unter folgendem Link weitere Informationen sowie das Formular zur Anmeldung.

Falls Sie Lesenswertes zu Command, Leadership oder Management entdecken, würden wir uns freuen, wenn Sie dies mit uns teilen. Gerne nehmen wir Tipps für die kommende Ausgabe von Leader’s Digest via document.getElementById(«email-obfuscator-leadersdigest»).innerHTML=»R-Znvy».replace(/[a-zA-Z]/g,function(c){return String.fromCharCode((c=(c=c.charCodeAt(0)+13)?c:c-26);});[Aktivieren Sie JavaScript, um die E-Mail-Adresse anzuzeigen] entgegen.

Auftrag. Mensch. Organisation. Führung zwischen Chaos und Perfektion.

[Verlag NZZ Folio, 08.12.2025, Patrick Hofstetter, Thomas Vogel und Reto Wegmann]

Unter dem Dreiklang «Auftrag – Mensch – Organisation» verbinden die Autoren militärische Führungsprinzipien mit den Herausforderungen ziviler Organisationen und machen sie für den Alltag von Führungskräften nutzbar. Der kompakte Ratgeber präsentiert ihre persönlichen Erfahrungen anhand eines fiktiven Charakters, dem Oberleutnant Lukas Weber. Lukas ist Startup-Gründer, ETH Zürich-Abgänger, Milizoffizier, Freizeitmusiker. Er nutzt Tipps und Tricks aus seiner Führungsausbildung in der Schweizer Armee, um sich durch das Chaos seines Lebens zu kämpfen. Damit soll das Werk nicht nur hilfreich, sondern auch unterhaltsam zu lesen sein. Das Command-Leadership-Management-Modell und der OODA-Loop dienen dabei als robuste Orientierung: von der Problemerfassung über die Auftragsanalyse bis hin zu Lagemeetings, Kulturarbeit und persönlicher Stressregulation. Wer seine Führung zwischen Chaos und Perfektion bewusster gestalten will, findet in diesem Buch eine verständliche und zugleich anspruchsvolle Grundlage für den eigenen Führungsalltag – egal, ob Bereichsleiterin, Zugführer oder Projektverantwortliche.

Link: https://www.nzz-libro.ch/Auftrag.-Mensch.-Organisation.-978-3-03980-033-9

The Wartech Nexus – Are Military Structures Fit Enough?

[Defence Horizon Journal, 12.06.2025, Bernhard Schulyok, Lukas Grangl]

In this journal article, the authors argue that to stay effective, armed forces need the ability to integrate technological innovation quickly and effectively. Militaries‘ institutional tendency to favour a purely conservative approach puts them at risk as they are unprepared if a potential enemy uses technological innovation to his advantage. Therefore, the authors see «institutional fitness», the military’s ability to change, as crucial. Their suggested path towards institutional fitness includes decentralised decision-making, public-private partnerships and cultural transformation. A valuable read.

Link: https://tdhj.org/blog/post/wartech-military-innovation/

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s War with the Rules of Engagement

[Just Security, 09.10.2025, Daniel Maurer]

U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth, leader of the renamed Department of War, has repeatedly called for Rules of Engagements to be lifted, so that the hands of U.S. soldiers could be «untied». He wants the U.S. Armed Forces to focus on lethality to be victorious, ignoring various other factors that contribute to military success, such as having a coherent (military) strategy that meaningfully bridges the existing means to the desired ends. The article notes how Hegseth’s denigration of the RoE risks encouraging lawlessness within the U.S. Armed Forces. As President Trump is deploying the National Guard domestically, such lawlessness can impact U.S. citizens not just peripherally, but directly. 

Link: https://www.justsecurity.org/122191/hegseths-war-rules-engagement/

When the Campaign Meets the City: Urban Battles and the Operational Level of War

[Modern War Institute, Alec Wahlman, 07.09.2020]

The author uses an example of a potential Russian advance on Warsaw to show how seemingly minor tactical successes can have operational-level effects. He then argues that the tactical level is not to be seen as divorced from the operational level of war, but rather that both should be connected meaningfully to serve the broader military strategic goals effectively.

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/when-the-campaign-meets-the-city-urban-battles-and-the-operational-level-of-war/

Building Trust in Military AI Starts with Opening the Black Box

[War on the Rocks, 12.08.2025, Roy Lindelauf , Herwin Meerveld]

As the capabilities of AI are advancing, many pundits have already argued for a rapid integration of AI into the armed forces. Yet the authors of this article argue that if militaries’ AI adoption is hastened, they risk investing into AI-solutions that aren’t a solution at all. Moreover, over-reliance on AI carries its own risks, as does the skipping of answering ethical questions before deploying AI within the armed forces. The authors therefore argue that militaries should adopt AI, yet do so in a systematic and thought-out manner and not in haste. They propose that increasing AI literacy within the armed forces as well as within the defence sector can serve as a first step and will help militaries adopt AI systematically whilst also helping to mitigate the risks associated with AI-use in defence.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/08/building-trust-in-military-ai-starts-with-opening-the-black-box/

Dispersed, Disguised, and Degradable —The Implications of the Fighting in Ukraine for Future U.S.-Involved Conflicts

[RAND, 22.05.2025, Mark Hvizda et al.]

The authors of this RAND report look at the Russian War in Ukraine and which lessons can be drawn from it for future conflicts. Both the tactical and the operational level of war are investigated. The report addresses UAS and precision-mass strikes, how the gap between UAS and cruise missiles is shrinking, why offensive operations have become even more challenging, and why air superiority remains critical. The link leads you to a summary page, there you can download the full report.

Link: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3141-2.html

Drift or Abandonment? Exploring How US Domestic Politics and External Realities May Affect US Security Engagement in Europe 2025-2029

[Swedish Defence Research Agency, 09.09.2025, Alin Aronsson, Björn Ottosson]

As a reaction to the Trump administration’s chaotic behaviour and ever-changing approach to European security, the authors of this study analyse possible U.S. defence postures in Europe during Trump’s second term (2025–2029). They outline four scenarios: Policy Drift (gradual change), Bilateralisation (fragmented ties to Europe on a country-by-country basis), Asia First (abrupt Indo-Pacific pivot), and Abandonment (U.S. withdrawal from NATO). All scenarios involve reduced American military presence, creating risks for NATO cohesion and European security. The study urges European leaders to address these risks by strengthening interoperability and strategic cooperation to move towards strategic autonomy. A crucial first step towards autonomy would be compensating for existing European capability gaps of capabilities which for now only the U.S. armed forces can adequately provide, such as ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), missile defence and long-range strike capabilities. The full report can be downloaded on the following page.

Link: https://www.foi.se/en/foi/reports/report-summary.html?reportNo=FOI-R–5777–SE

Breaking NATO’s Cult of the Urban Offense

[Modern War Institute, 16.08.2025, John Spencer et al.]

This article draws an interesting connection between the Allies’ struggle to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe and today’s focus of Western armies on the urban offense. John Spencer, Stuart Lyle and Jayson Geroux argue that this focus on the urban offense is not justified anymore in today’s context, and that training for urban defence should be prioritised. They conclude that “[o]ffense and defense are not opposites. They are interdependent. To focus on only one is to plan for failure.”

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/breaking-natos-cult-of-the-urban-offense/

Über das «Update Führung»

Das Update Führung ist eine wiederkehrende Rubrik des Newsletters Leader’s Digest. Dieser Newsletter entsteht in Kooperation des Leadership Campus der Schweizer Armee und der Dozentur Führung und Kommunikation der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich. Wenn Sie Leader’s Digest noch nicht abonniert haben, finden Sie unter folgendem Link weitere Informationen sowie das Formular zur Anmeldung.

Falls Sie Lesenswertes zu Command, Leadership oder Management entdecken, würden wir uns freuen, wenn Sie dies mit uns teilen. Gerne nehmen wir Tipps für die kommende Ausgabe von Leader’s Digest via document.getElementById(«email-obfuscator-leadersdigest»).innerHTML=»R-Znvy».replace(/[a-zA-Z]/g,function(c){return String.fromCharCode((c=(c=c.charCodeAt(0)+13)?c:c-26);});[Aktivieren Sie JavaScript, um die E-Mail-Adresse anzuzeigen] entgegen.

Navigating neutrality: How to find the best match between NATO and its four remaining neutral Western European Partners (WEP4)?

[Österreichisches Institut für Internationale Politik, 08.05.2025, Loïc Simonet]

Seit dem Start des umfassenden Russischen Kriegs in der Ukraine konzentriert sich die NATO thematisch auf den Bündnisfall und geografisch insbesondere auf Ost- und Nordeuropa. Die vorherig neutralen Länder Finnland und Schweden sind beide der NATO beigetreten. Der Club der neutralen Länder in Europa wird kleiner, und umfasst nun noch die Schweiz, Österreich, Irland und Malta. Laut der Studie Sicherheit 2025 wünschen sich 53% der Schweizer Bevölkerung eine Annäherung an die NATO. Der Artikel wirft wertvolle Fragen auf, wie diese Kooperation neutraler europäischer Länder mit der NATO aussehen könnte, und welche Herausforderungen dabei bestehen.

Link: https://www.oiip.ac.at/publikation/navigating-neutrality-how-to-find-the-best-match-between-nato-and-its-four-remaining-neutral-western-european-partners-wep4/

From Chechnya to Ukraine: Russian military adaptation in a comparative perspective

[Journal of Strategic Studies, 06.08.2025, Roman Knubel, Marcel Berni, Moritz Nepomuk Kueng]

Comparing the Second Russo-Chechen War with the War in Ukraine, the authors find that in both wars, the Russian Armed Forces demonstrated a capability for wartime adaptation, yet that these lessons are often subsequently forgotten, with institutional knowledge not being retained sufficiently. In both wars, initial Russian plans for a quick overwhelming of the enemy by capturing the opponent’s capital (Grozny/Kyiv) failed, which then led to a focus on attrition. The vast losses Ukrainian soldiers inflicted and are continuing to inflict upon the Russian Army forced it to shorten training durations, essentially sacrificing quality for quantity. Overall, an insightful article striking both the importance of peace- and wartime adaptation and the crucial aspect of institutional memory.

Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01402390.2025.2538857?src=exp-la#d1e257

Blinding First, Striking Fast: Why the Marine Corps Needs Information Groups

[War on the Rocks, 13.10.2025, Benjamin Jensen & Ian Fletcher]

The increasing quantity and quality of sensors inherently increases the information that is available for any military commander. Nevertheless, this valuable information is often buried below a pile of «noise», irrelevant or wrong information. Jensen and Fletcher suggest that the information space is crucial in modern wars, and that introducing noise and friction into the adversary’s system can open a gap which combat troops can then exploit. They remark: «On a transparent battlefield, the most reliable path to advantage is to disorient the enemy: deny their sensors and signals, feed them false indicators, then strike decisively while they search for ghosts or exhaust themselves chasing phantoms».

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/10/blinding-first-striking-fast-why-the-marine-corps-needs-information-groups/

Décider en Zone d’Ombre: Div Raynald Droz

[Schweizer Armee Podcast, 17.07.2025, Raynald Droz]

« Dans le brouillard, la confiance va définitivement plus vite que le Wi-Fi. » Dans cette discours, divisionnaire Raynald Droz, commandant de la division territoriale 1, explore la complexité de la prise de décision dans des environnements incertains, marqués par l’urgence et le besoin d’adaptation rapide. Il souligne l’importance de la technologie, tout en reconnaissant ses limites dans la prise de décision en temps de crise. Dans les moments critiques, le discernement humain reste indispensable, même si la technologie peut s’avérer utile. La confiance, les relations humaines et la capacité à prendre des décisions rapides avec peu d’informations sont déterminantes pour la réussite. Pour faire face à un avenir incertain avec détermination, le divisionnaire Droz appelle à une culture de sécurité collective. Celle-ci doit être fondée sur la coordination de tous les acteurs de la sécurité en Suisse.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_AQDyaYC3s

The Evolution of Landpower

[CSIS, 16.09.2025, Benjamin Jensen]

The evolution of warfare to include precision strike capabilities and cyber operations has in previous decades led experts to declare that consequently the importance of landpower would decrease. Jensen’s article argues that rather than military technological evolutions making landpower less relevant, its importance rises as it is required to enable other domains. He argues that “[l]andpower remains indispensable as the hub that sustains and integrates operations across air, sea, space, and cyber domains. There is no airpower without airports. There is no seapower with major ports. There is no cyber or space power without digital infrastructure, ground stations, and launch platforms.”

Link: https://www.csis.org/analysis/chapter-5-evolution-landpower

Unshackling Training with Drones in the Army

[RUSI, 17.07.2025, Julian Brazier]

In this article the author strikes the importance of developing aerial drone (UAS) and counter-drone capabilities quickly and competently. To help enable this, Brazier suggests adapting regulations which stifle innovation. For one, he proposes that those who want to become drone pilots and already possess drone skills should only be required to pass an exam, not to undergo basic drone training. Whereas such rules for completed training are perhaps purposeful when training on a MANPAD, their application to dual-use systems can impede the efficiency of the training. Further Brazier suggests to better utilise the enthusiasm of voluntary drone pilots. Instead of forcing soldiers and reservists to complete a one-size-fits-all drone training, drone schools could instead aim to attract drone enthusiasts and provide them training that starts at their skills level. As enthusiasts are likely to continue self-directed work on their drone skills, this further simplifies the army’s need to maintain the drone operator’s skills and saves resources and time. Similarly to the British Army, the Swiss Armed Forces’ drone projects are also being impeded by strict military aviation regulation and can benefit from better using the existing drone talent within its ranks.

Link: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/unshackling-training-drones-army

Not Withstanding? An Upbeat Perspective on Societies’ Will to Fight

[NATO Defense College, 29.07.2025, Roderick Parkes]

A multitude of articles have highlighted how Western societies are now «post-heroic» and lack the willingness to fight in case of need. Often these articles were based on surveys, yet those surveys are unlikely to tell the full truth. This paper argues that the willingness to defend cannot be objectively researched, as it is highly context dependent. It suggests that a focus on society’s lack of resilience can be harmful as it risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. By recognising that Western societies’ low willingness to fight might simply stem from the lack of a perceived existential threat, the paper argues that if an existential threat is perceived, societies will likely show remarkable resilience. They therefore argue that this resilience should be accounted for in defence planning, both to utilise its benefits as well as to prevent risking a self-fulfilling prophecy of brittle societies. The full paper can be downloaded with the link on the following website.

Link: https://www.ndc.nato.int/not-withstanding-an-upbeat-perspective-on-societies-will-to-fight/

Leadership, Lethality, and (Data) Literacy: Three Keys to Prepare the Army for the Data-Driven, AI-Enabled Future of War

[Modern War Institute, 07.05.2025, Charlie Phelps]

With satellites, drones and cyber channels recording an increasing amount of data relevant for military operations, AI is necessary to quickly evaluate large amounts of data. Yet to effectively utilise the output of AI, militaries need leaders who are comfortable with data and understand its potential and shortcomings. The authors of this article therefore argue that data-literacy is a critical skill for modern leaders and needs to be prioritised in military education.   

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/leadership-lethality-and-data-literacy-three-keys-to-prepare-the-army-for-the-data-driven-ai-enabled-future-of-war/

Über das «Update Führung»

Das Update Führung ist eine wiederkehrende Rubrik des Newsletters Leader’s Digest. Dieser Newsletter entsteht in Kooperation des Leadership Campus der Schweizer Armee und der Dozentur Führung und Kommunikation der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich. Wenn Sie Leader’s Digest noch nicht abonniert haben, finden Sie unter folgendem Link weitere Informationen sowie das Formular zur Anmeldung.

Falls Sie Lesenswertes zu Command, Leadership oder Management entdecken, würden wir uns freuen, wenn Sie dies mit uns teilen. Gerne nehmen wir Tipps für die kommende Ausgabe von Leader’s Digest via document.getElementById(«email-obfuscator-leadersdigest»).innerHTML=»R-Znvy».replace(/[a-zA-Z]/g,function(c){return String.fromCharCode((c=(c=c.charCodeAt(0)+13)?c:c-26);});[Aktivieren Sie JavaScript, um die E-Mail-Adresse anzuzeigen] entgegen.

Geistige Landesverteidigung als Teil der Gesamtverteidigung

[Defence Horizon Journal, 15.09.2025, Sarah von Felten & Jonas Ch. Frey]

Wörter wie «hybride Kriegsführung» und «Desinformation» sind zurzeit in aller Munde, und auf Antwort darauf ist oft von «Resilienz» die Rede. Sei es societal resilience, mental resilience, informational resilience oder supply chain resilience, die Kombinationen scheinen endlos. Eine Art umfassende Resilienz beschreibt auch der Begriff der Geistigen Landesverteidigung, welcher zurzeit entstaubt wird. Denn: ursprünglich als Schutz vor totalitären Ideologien gedacht, eignet sich Geistige Landesverteidigung auch heute noch als Antwort auf Desinformation und hybride Bedrohungen. Von Felten und Frey argumentieren, dass die Geistige Landesverteidigung trotz deren teilweisen Stigmatisierung in den Schweizer Institutionen weiterlebt. Der Beitrag entwickelt auf Basis eines österreichischen Referenzmodells ein Schweizer Funktionsmodell, das die sieben Bundesdepartemente und die Bundeskanzlei einbindet und die Rolle der Zivilgesellschaft in der Geistigen Landesverteidigung hervorhebt. Das Konzept der Geistigen Landesverteidigung sollte entstigmatisiert werden und wieder in die Mitte der Gesellschaft finden.

Link: https://tdhj.org/de/post/geistige-landesverteidigung-gesamtverteidigung/

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Military Decision-Making Process and Mission Command

[Defence Horizon Journal, 11.09.2025, Patrick Hofstetter et al.]

This article explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping military command, using John Boyd’s OODA Loop to analyse impacts across observation, orientation, decision, and action. AI can accelerate data processing, decision support, and execution, but also risks over-centralisation and automation bias. Written by Patrick Hofstetter, Marius Geller, and Florian Gerster, it argues that Western militaries should align AI with Mission Command’s decentralised philosophy, empowering subordinates while preserving accountability. The authors propose a continuum between centralisation and decentralisation, where doctrine, culture, and structures adapt flexibly according to the situation at hand.

Link: https://tdhj.org/blog/post/ai-military-decision-making/#:~:text=The%20Impact%20Of%20Artificial%20Intelligence,Making%20Process%20And%20Mission%20Command

Risiko- und Krisenmanagement und Armee

[Stratos 1-25, 04.07.2025, Schweizer Armee]

Stratos ist wieder da! Die im Juli erschienene Edition 1-25 beschäftigt sich mit dem Beitrag, welchen die Armee für das Risiko- und Krisenmanagement auf nationaler und kantonaler Ebene leistet, und den Voraussetzungen dafür, dass sie diesen Beitrag auch in Zukunft weiterhin erbringen kann. Insbesondere lesenswert sind die Artikel Cognitive Warfare: Die Schweizer Armee – Herausforderungen in der kognitiven Dimension (S. 135+) und  Kämpfen – schützen (– helfen); gleichzeitig und im gleichen Raum (S. 167+).

Link: https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/stratos

NATO Should Not Replace Traditional Firepower with ‘Drones’

[RUSI, 04.08.2025, Prof. Justin Bronk]

The extent of the use of UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) in the Russian-Ukrainian War has led some commentators to announce that cheap UAS will complement or even replace expensive legacy systems in the future. In this article published by the British think tank RUSI, Justin Bronk argues that even as UAS see heavy use in the Russian-Ukrainian War, one must be careful not to draw the wrong conclusions. For one, the Ukrainian way of war is by no means ideal, as Ukraine’s capabilities are limited by financial and industrial limits. It is instead focused on utilising the available limited resources to the best extent possible. Secondly, NATO has different strength than Ukraine and should make sure to capitalise on its strengths. Overall it’s an interesting report which argues that NATO should complement yet not replace its legacy systems with UAS.

Link: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/rusi-defence-systems/nato-should-not-replace-traditional-firepower-drones

An AI Revolution in Military Affairs?

[RAND Corporation, 03.07.2025, Zachary Burdette et al.]

This report of the US-think tank RAND offers a comprehensive analysis of how AI will likely change warfare, and what this means for militaries. Their findings are relevant from the tactical level all the way up to the military-strategic level. In summary, the report suggest that as the capabilities of relatively cheap systems increase, mass may become more important relative to quality. This doesn’t suggest that high-end systems will become irrelevant, rather it means that to maximise the effectiveness of the armed forces, a part of military funding that currently funds high-end systems in low numbers will have to be re-allocated towards financing mass constituted by cheaper systems. The authors further suggest that in AI-enabled warfare mission command will stay relevant and that deception (i.e. through decoys) will gain importance. Download the full report on the link below.

Link: https://www.rand.org/pubs/working_papers/WRA4004-1.html

Urban Warfare Project Case Study #13 ─ Hadrut

[Modern War Institute, 25.04.2025, Liam Collins & John Spencer]

In this case study, the authors look at the Second Karabakh/Artsakh War of September 2020, and investigate the reasons why in the battle for the provincial capital Hadrut the Armenian Armed Forces failed to put up an adequate defence, and why the Azerbaijani Armed Forces succeeded in taking the city. The war ended in a decisive Azerbaijani victory, with Azerbaijan (re-)integrating the internationally recognized Azerbaijani, yet Armenian-inhabited territory of Karabakh/Artsakh into Azerbaijan.

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/urban-warfare-project-case-study-13-battle-of-hadrut/

More highly valuable case studies can be found here: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/urban-warfare-project/

A Clausewitzian Lens on Modern Urban Warfare

[Modern War Institute, 13.05.2025, John Spencer]

In this article, the author takes the 2-century-old wisdom of Carl von Clausewitz and applies it to modern urban warfare in Iraq, Ukraine and Gaza. He closes this valuable read by pointing to the continued relevance of Clausewitzian concepts such as the nature of war, “a contest of wills, shaped by politics, distorted by chance, and fought in the dense, contested, and morally fraught terrain of the modern city”.

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/a-clausewitzian-lens-on-modern-urban-warfare/

The Dialectic of Deception: John Boyd and the Cognitive Battlefield

[War on the Rocks, 04.09.2025, J. William DeMarco]

This fascinating article applies John Boyd’s OODA-Loop (Observe – Orient – Decide – Act) theory to society. The paper argue that nowadays “the center of gravity is no longer fleets or factories but the shared grasp of reality itself”. A society where facts are seen as opinion and opinions are seen as facts will become unable to coordinate effective resistance against any threat, as it lacks a shared understanding of the threat and the common purpose to address it. Open societies where ideas can freely circulate are an especially worthwhile target, with Russia having perfected the method of using lies not for the sake of offering an alternative reality, but for damaging the very idea of truth itself.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/09/the-dialectic-of-deception-john-boyd-and-the-cognitive-battlefield/

Über das «Update Führung»

Das Update Führung ist eine wiederkehrende Rubrik des Newsletters Leader’s Digest. Dieser Newsletter entsteht in Kooperation des Leadership Campus der Schweizer Armee und der Dozentur Führung und Kommunikation der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich. Wenn Sie Leader’s Digest noch nicht abonniert haben, finden Sie unter folgendem Link weitere Informationen sowie das Formular zur Anmeldung.

Falls Sie Lesenswertes zu Command, Leadership oder Management entdecken, würden wir uns freuen, wenn Sie dies mit uns teilen. Gerne nehmen wir Tipps für die kommende Ausgabe von Leader’s Digest via document.getElementById(«email-obfuscator-leadersdigest»).innerHTML=»R-Znvy».replace(/[a-zA-Z]/g,function(c){return String.fromCharCode((c=(c=c.charCodeAt(0)+13)?c:c-26);});[Aktivieren Sie JavaScript, um die E-Mail-Adresse anzuzeigen] entgegen.

Lagebericht NDB: «Sicherheit Schweiz 2025»

[Nachrichtendienst des Bundes, 02.07.2025]

Der jährliche Lagebericht des NDB schätzt die für die Schweiz relevanten aktuellen Bedrohungen ein und erläutert sie. Der Bericht hebt für die Armee die akute Spionagebedrohung hervor, die insbesondere von Russland, aber auch von China ausgeht. Im Fokus stehen Rüstungsgüter im Besitz der Schweiz, welche von den Herstellern aus Sicherheitsgründen weder an Russland noch an China geliefert werden. Einige dieser Mittel, etwa der deutsche Panzer Leopard 2, werden bereits durch die Ukraine eingesetzt, andere etwa der Kampfjet F-35A, würden in einem potenziellen Konflikt zwischen den USA und China eingesetzt. Daraus resultiert ein grosses Interesse nicht-westlicher Staaten, in der Schweiz Informationen über diese Waffensysteme zu beschaffen. Der vollständige, thematisch vielfältige Report ist über die Links unten verfügbar.

Link De: https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/XW_TSsOgTLf0-xDTA5RAp

Link It: https://www.news.admin.ch/it/newnsb/XW_TSsOgTLf0-xDTA5RAp

The Wartech Nexus – Are Military Structures Fit Enough?

[Defence Horizon Journal, 12.06.2025, Bernhard Schulyok, Lukas Grangl]

In this journal article, the authors argue that to stay effective, armed forces need the ability to integrate technological innovation quickly and effectively. Militaries‘ institutional tendency to favour a purely conservative approach puts them at risk as they are unprepared if a potential enemy uses technological innovation to his advantage. Therefore, the authors see «institutional fitness», the military’s ability to change, as crucial. Their suggested path towards institutional fitness includes decentralised decision-making, public-private partnerships and cultural transformation. A valuable read.

Link: https://tdhj.org/blog/post/wartech-military-innovation/

Mass Precision Strike: Designing UAV Complexes for Land Forces

[RUSI, 11.04.2024, Justin Bronk & Jack Watling]

This report of a renowned British think-tank addresses the utility of aerial drones and the caution required in integrating them within the armed forces. Whilst the report highlights how cheap UAVs can destroy substantially more expensive enemy equipment and complicate enemy logistics, it cautions against seeing UAVs as the one solution for all military challenges, as UAVs still face trade-offs in the field of range, pay-load capacity, speed, size etc. Regarding the distribution of UAVs within armed forces, the report concludes that “UAVs may be [widely] distributed to provide units with situational awareness, but mass precision strike should be managed by a specialist formation”.

Link: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/occasional-papers/mass-precision-strike-designing-uav-complexes-land-forces

The Age of Answers Is Over: Training Adaptive Thinkers for Modern Military Realities

[Modern War Institute, 23.05.2025, Jeff DeGraff]

An innovation professor who helped the U.S. military adapt now, in a time of rapid technological change, sees the need for military education to embrace ambiguity, incongruity, and paradox. He suggests that operating in such an environment requires adaptive thinkers who can learn faster than they plan and don’t freeze when they find themselves in such an ambiguous, incongruent and paradox environment.

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/the-age-of-answers-is-over-training-adaptive-thinkers-for-modern-military-realities/

Schiessen

[Y—Das Magazin der Bundeswehr, 2/2025]

Diese Ausgabe des Bundeswehrmagazin widmet sich ganz dem Hauptinstrument der Infantrie — der persönlichen Waffe. Verschiedene Artikel beleuchten Häuserkampf, Drohnenabwehr und den Bundeswehreinsatz in Afghanistan.

Link: https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/publikationen/y-magazin-der-bundeswehr

Attacking Schnöggersburg

[Modern War Institute, 11.02.2025, Ilhan Akcay]

In this report, the author summarises the lessons learned from a two-week exercise of the German Armed Forces that simulated a complex urban assault on the urban training city of Schnöggersburg. Among the key lessons learned were how well-integrated tactical reconnaissance serves as a strong force multiplier, how quickly an attacking force needs to shift from an aggressive assault to rapid maneuvering, and how crucial concealment is in an urban warfare setting.

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/attacking-schnoggersburg/

Über das «Update Führung»

Das Update Führung ist eine wiederkehrende Rubrik des Newsletters Leader’s Digest. Dieser Newsletter entsteht in Kooperation des Leadership Campus der Schweizer Armee und der Dozentur Führung und Kommunikation der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich. Wenn Sie Leader’s Digest noch nicht abonniert haben, finden Sie unter folgendem Link weitere Informationen sowie das Formular zur Anmeldung.

Falls Sie Lesenswertes zu Command, Leadership oder Management entdecken, würden wir uns freuen, wenn Sie dies mit uns teilen. Gerne nehmen wir Tipps für die kommende Ausgabe von Leader’s Digest via document.getElementById(«email-obfuscator-leadersdigest»).innerHTML=»R-Znvy».replace(/[a-zA-Z]/g,function(c){return String.fromCharCode((c=(c=c.charCodeAt(0)+13)?c:c-26);});[Aktivieren Sie JavaScript, um die E-Mail-Adresse anzuzeigen] entgegen.

Sicherheit 2025

[Publikation MILAK & CSS ETH, 2025, Tibor Szvircsev Tresch et al.]

Die Studie Sicherheit ermittelt jährlich das Stimmungsbild der Schweizer Bevölkerung in Themen der Aussen-, Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik. Die diesjährige Ausgabe zeigt, dass eine Mehrheit der Schweizer Bevölkerung:

• sich sicher fühlt (86%);
• die weltpolitische Lage pessimistisch einschätzt (81%);
• sich eine Annäherung an die NATO wünscht (53%);
• die Armee als notwendig erachtet (80%);

Das Vertrauen in die Armee ist im Vergleich zum letzten Jahr gesunken (6.5/10 in 2025 vs. 6.8/10 in 2024).

Link: https://css.ethz.ch/publikationen/studie-sicherheit/details.html?id=/s/i/c/h/sicherheit_2025

Crucibles, Not Comfort, Shape Future Military Leaders

[War on the Rocks, 07.05.2025, J. William DeMarco]

DeMarco examines the challenge of having a U.S. military leadership culture that simultaneously cares for its members whilst preparing them for warfare. He highlights that «the shift toward compassion, emotional intelligence, and holistic leadership was needed». But «somewhere along the way, the military began to mistake comfort for care». As an answer to this lack of inner resilience he suggests structured hardship, as a tree only puts down strong roots when there is strong wind.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/05/crucibles-not-comfort-shape-future-military-leaders/

Learning to Learn: Lessons for the US Army from the Israel Defense Forces’ Wartime Adaption

[Modern War Institute, 21.05.2025, John Spencer]

Whereas other studies tend to focus on what other armed forces can learn from the Russian-Ukrainian War and the War in Gaza, this report is centered around the question what other armed forces can learn from the IDF’s ability to learn. By employing innovative means, the IDF aims to foster an environment where (potential) issues are quickly identified, their solutions quickly developed, and where finally that knowledge of both the issue and its solution quickly reaches all the soldiers that will benefit from it. The paper concludes poignantly: «Urban combat will not slow down for PowerPoint» and suggests that «adaptation must move at the speed of battle». «For the US Army [and the Swiss Armed Forces; editor’s note], this means rethinking how it institutionalizes learning—not just in after-action reviews, but in the fight itself.«

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/learning-to-learn-lessons-for-the-us-army-from-the-israel-defense-forces-wartime-adaption/

Wandel

[Zeitschrift Innere Führung 2/25, Bundeswehr]

Diese Ausgabe der Bundeswehrzeitschrift IF befasst sich mit Wandel und der gleichzeitigen Kontinuität der Inneren Führung. Insbesonders empfehlenswert ist der Artikel Neutralität mit Ausnahmen  – Die Schweiz und die NATO (S. 48+). Ebenso spannend sind die Artikel Gelebte Innere Führung (S. 24+), Wandel braucht Führung (S. 30+) und Wege der Inneren Führung (S. 36+).

Link: https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/weitere-bmvg-dienststellen/zentrum-innere-fuehrung/unsere-angebote/if-zeitschrift-fuer-innere-fuehrung

What Ukraine Can Teach Europe and the World about Innovation in Modern Warfare

[Chatham House, 05.03.2025, Joyce Hakmeh]

This concise article of a British think tank describes the factors that allow the Armed Forces of Ukraine to quickly innovate and adapt. These findings, of course, can similarly be applied to other militaries such as the Swiss Armed Forces. Amongst others, the article describes the importance of the government enabling innovation and not impeding it.

Link: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/03/what-ukraine-can-teach-europe-and-world-about-innovation-modern-warfare

Military AI: Angel of our Better Nature or Tool of Control?

[War on the Rocks, 09.05.2025, Emelia Probasco, Minji Jang]

In this commentary, the authors come up with an interesting distinction for the roles of AI-enabled military systems. These systems can be used as tools, coaches or enforcers. Whereas as tools they simply help a human operator achieve a straight-forward goal, as coaches they provide advice for the operator who needs to take decisions in order to solve a more complex problem. As enforcers, the AI-enabled systems decide themselves. The authors discuss these three roles in the context of military ethics and the laws of war, yet the concept of the three roles of AI-enabled systems can be applied to a broad military and civilian context.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/05/military-ai-angel-of-our-better-nature-or-tool-of-control/

Über das «Update Führung»

Das Update Führung ist eine wiederkehrende Rubrik des Newsletters Leader’s Digest. Dieser Newsletter entsteht in Kooperation des Leadership Campus der Schweizer Armee und der Dozentur Führung und Kommunikation der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich. Wenn Sie Leader’s Digest noch nicht abonniert haben, finden Sie unter folgendem Link weitere Informationen sowie das Formular zur Anmeldung.

Falls Sie Lesenswertes zu Command, Leadership oder Management entdecken, würden wir uns freuen, wenn Sie dies mit uns teilen. Gerne nehmen wir Tipps für die kommende Ausgabe von Leader’s Digest via document.getElementById(«email-obfuscator-leadersdigest»).innerHTML=»R-Znvy».replace(/[a-zA-Z]/g,function(c){return String.fromCharCode((c=(c=c.charCodeAt(0)+13)?c:c-26);});[Aktivieren Sie JavaScript, um die E-Mail-Adresse anzuzeigen] entgegen.

How Ukraine Rebuilt Its Military Acquisition System Around Commercial Technology

[CSIS, 13.01.2025, Kateryna Bondar]

Necessitated by the war, Ukraine has taken several measures to foster military innovation, such as integrating the commercial sector, fostering bottom-up innovation and decentralizing procurement processes. The report investigates these shifts in detail.

Link: https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-ukraine-rebuilt-its-military-acquisition-system-around-commercial-technology

Sicherheit

[Y-Magazin 1/2025, Bundeswehr]

Diese Ausgabe des Y-Magazins der Bundeswehr befasst sich unter anderem mit Informationskriegsführung, Operational Security, Sicherungsaufgaben und Cyberrisiken.

Link: https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/publikationen/y-magazin-der-bundeswehr

Schweizer Panzer ins Ausland?! Trainieren wir jetzt für die NATO? | Brigadier Roduner erklärt TRIAS

[Podcast Schweizer Armee, April 2025]

In dieser Ausgabe des Armee-Podcasts diskutiert Oberst i Gst Mathias Müller mit Brigadier Christoph Roduner. Sie sprechen über die Herausforderungen der Armee, Führung sowie die Übung TRIAS 25, die erste Auslandübung der Schweizer Armee in 30 Jahren.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1YoI3l6Ds8

Ethical Challenges of Multimodal AI in Military Use

[Swedish Defence Research Agency, 10.12.2024, Edward Tjörnhammer et al.]

This report elaborates on how technological advancements in multimodal models mean that AI is increasingly capable of utilising multiple types of information such as images and sounds simultaneously. It further suggests that this development towards multimodal models could enable more autonomous decision in the decision chain and fewer moral decisions being made by humans, and highlights the risks thereof. The full report can be accessed on the bottom of the page.

Link: https://www.foi.se/en/foi/news-and-pressroom/news/2024-12-10-ethical-challenges-of-multimodal-ai-in-military-use.html

Das Militär rüstet sich für den Drohnenkrieg. Der Bund gibt dafür 47 Millionen Franken aus

[NZZ, 05.04.2025, Simon Marti, Georg Humbel]

Während Kampfdrohnen am prominentesten und umfassendsten im Ukrainekrieg eingesetzt werden, schreitet deren Verbreitung weiter voran. Deren Einsatz findet nun unter anderem auch in Myanmar, Sudan sowie im Nahen Osten statt. Sogar der Kampfdrohneneinsatz von mexikanischen Drogenkartellen ist dokumentiert. Dieser Artikel der NZZ beschreibt die Massnahmen des VBS und der Armee, welche es ihr erlauben sollen mit dieser Evolution der Kriegsführung Schritt zu halten.

Link: https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/der-bund-gibt-47-millionen-franken-aus-das-vbs-ruestet-sich-fuer-den-drohnenkrieg-ld.1878337

Vom Umgang mit Amerika

[Progress Foundation, 2025, Ivan Adamovich, Konrad Hummler]

Mit seinem Regierungsstil hat Trump 2.0 in wenigen Monaten in den Köpfen von Bürgern, Anlegerinnen und Sicherheitspolitikern viele Fragen geweckt. Häufig wird dem amerikanischen Präsidenten dabei erratisches, irrationales Verhalten unterstellt. Adamovich und Hummler wagen die These, dass sich hinter dem Vorgehen mehr Rationalität als vermutet versteckt und leiten daraus drei Szenarien ab:

1. Eine Aufteilung der Welt, wenn sich die USA bewusst aus der Rolle des Hegemonen zurückziehen;
2. Multilateralismus 2.0 mit einer ausgewogeneren Globalisierung als Umkehr nach einem anfänglichen Szenario 1;
3. Die grosse Unordnung bei einem entgleitenden Szenario 1.

Grundlage ist die Erkenntnis, dass die Rolle des Hegemonen mit Kosten verbunden ist, welche die USA langfristig nicht mehr tragen können oder wollen. Publiziert wurde das Paper von der liberalen «Progress Foundation» mit Sitz in Zürich. Der Artikel kann als PDF kostenlos auf Deutsch oder Englisch heruntergeladen werden.

Link: https://progress-foundation.ch/publikation/vom-umgang-mit-amerika/

Über das «Update Führung»

Das Update Führung ist eine wiederkehrende Rubrik des Newsletters Leader’s Digest. Dieser Newsletter entsteht in Kooperation des Leadership Campus der Schweizer Armee und der Dozentur Führung und Kommunikation der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich. Wenn Sie Leader’s Digest noch nicht abonniert haben, finden Sie unter folgendem Link weitere Informationen sowie das Formular zur Anmeldung.

Falls Sie Lesenswertes zu Command, Leadership oder Management entdecken, würden wir uns freuen, wenn Sie dies mit uns teilen. Gerne nehmen wir Tipps für die kommende Ausgabe von Leader’s Digest via document.getElementById(«email-obfuscator-leadersdigest»).innerHTML=»R-Znvy».replace(/[a-zA-Z]/g,function(c){return String.fromCharCode((c=(c=c.charCodeAt(0)+13)?c:c-26);});[Aktivieren Sie JavaScript, um die E-Mail-Adresse anzuzeigen] entgegen.

Tactical Developments During the Third Year of the Russo–Ukrainian War

[RUSI, February 2025, Jack Watling, Nick Reynolds]

This valuable study is the result of interviews with soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The interviews were conducted within various sectors of the AFU, all deployed on active frontlines in the Donetsk and Sumy regions. The study further examines how tactics in the war are evolving and what effect UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) are having. The authors’ observations in the field also point out that due to casualty-intensity and highly vulnerable MEDEVAC and logistics, NATO’s medical doctrine and logistical processes must be updated. An extremely valuable read, as many of its lessons for NATO can similarly be applied to the Swiss Armed Forces.

Link: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/special-resources/tactical-developments-during-third-year-russo-ukrainian-war

Warfare at the Speed of Thought: Balancing AI and Critical Thinking for the Military Leaders of Tomorrow

[Modern War Institute, 21.02.2025, Amanda Collazzo]

Much ink has been spilled on how AI-integrated militaries will be more effective. The author of this article agrees, yet she argues that overreliance on AI comes with dangers which occur when the AI tools are not available, compromised or failing to adapt. As George Dyson succinctly warned: «What if the cost of machines that think is people who don’t?«. The key therefore is that (military) users of AI tools engage in critical thinking to make sure that it is them who use AI and not the other way round.

Link: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/warfare-at-the-speed-of-thought-balancing-ai-and-critical-thinking-for-the-military-leaders-of-tomorrow/

Combatant Commands as Customers?

[War on the Rocks, 08.05.2025, Justin Johnson]

This article begins by stating that, with a budget of nearly $1 trillion and 3.4 million employees, the US Department of Defense is one of the largest economies in the world (in terms of GDP, even larger than Switzerland). Yet it is a centralized planned economy. This contrasts not only with the civilian economy, but also with the decentralization of responsibility through mission command that is sought in the armed forces. The author suggests that with the right incentives, management can be made more efficient and decisions can be accelerated —for example, by giving the demand side, the regional (such as USEUCOM) or functional (such as USCYBERCOM) combatant commands more budgetary autonomy.

Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/05/combatant-commands-as-customers/

The Future of Great Power Competition

[Joint Force Quarterly 3/24, July 2024, National Defense University]

The journal’s article Deviance and Innovation highlights a key paradox of armed forces, namely the need to innovate within an environment that structurally often favours stability. As the article elaborates: “Innovation and adaptation are inherently deviant. When these behaviors collide with an institutional culture of strict social control such as the U.S. military, most members of the organization will treat them as such”. The journal features various other articles, ranging in topic from logistics and military education to information operations.

Link: https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/joint-force-quarterly/vol114/iss2/2/

How generational stereotypes hold us back at work

[TEDxCreightonU, 4/2018, Leah Gorges]

In this insightful TED Talk, social psychologist Leah Georges explores the dynamics of the multigenerational workforce, encompassing the Silent Generation, baby boomers, Generation X, millennials, and Gen Z. She challenges the assumptions that often create barriers between these groups and highlights how our similarities outweigh our differences. Georges provides practical strategies for improving communication and collaboration across generations. This talk is particularly interesting for military leaders, who work with diverse age groups and must bridge generational gaps to foster effective teamwork and mission success.

https://www.ted.com/talks/leah_georges_how_generational_stereotypes_hold_us_back_at_work?subtitle=en&geo=fr&trigger=0s

Moderne Kriegsführung − Zwischen Hightech und moralischen Grenzen

[IF – Zeitschrift für Innere Führung 1/25, Dezember 2024]

Diese Ausgabe der Bundeswehrzeitschrift Innere Führung befasst sich mit den Themen der Gesamtverteidigung, und diskutiert den militärischen Einsatz von KI aus militärethischer Perspektive. Weiter wird die hybride Einflussnahme Russlands auf Deutschland beschrieben, ein ebenfalls aktuelles Thema für die Schweiz, welche von Russland ebenso mittels Informationsoperationen zu beinflussen und destabilisieren versucht wird. Auch interessant ist die Diskussion zur Zukunft des Krieges aus Clausewitz’ Perspektive ab Seite 62.

Link: https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/weitere-bmvg-dienststellen/zentrum-innere-fuehrung/unsere-angebote/if-zeitschrift-fuer-innere-fuehrung

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