From June 22 to 25, 2026, members of the Air and Space Academy gathered in Sweden for a special session focused on European strategic, aeronautical, and space issues.
The mission began in Stockholm with a meeting at the residence of the French Ambassador to Sweden, Thierry Carlier, which gave the academicians an opportunity to discuss Franco-Swedish relations and the major geopolitical challenges of today. Participants also benefited from insights provided by Jan Joel Andersson, special advisor to the Swedish Prime Minister, on Sweden’s perspective on security and international cooperation.
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The highlight of this session was a visit to the Esrange Space Center, located beyond the Arctic Circle, which gave the academicians the opportunity to explore one of the strategic sites of the European space program. Welcomed by Mattias Abrahamsson and Marko Kohberg, they were able to deepen their understanding of the infrastructure dedicated to future satellite launches from Europe. Léo Trapier’s presentation of the reusable Themis demonstrator highlighted the technological advances currently underway, while our colleague Stefan Gustafsson, former Senior Vice President of the Swedish Space Corporation, shared his analysis of the ambitions and prospects of the Swedish space sector.
The session concluded at Saab AB’s headquarters in Stockholm, where the academicians were welcomed by Christian Hedelin, Peter Bedoire, and Johan Rattvall. Through their presentations, the academicians learned about the group’s strategy, its main programs, and its perspective on defense and security issues. This segment was followed by a presentation by Colonel Jörgen Röstberg, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Royal Swedish Air Force, who discussed the current challenges facing this air force, which recently joined NATO and will celebrate its centennial on July 1, 2026.
Through these high-level visits and exchanges, the academicians continued their mission: to strengthen ties among Europe’s aerospace, industrial, and institutional communities in order to shed light on the sector’s future challenges.
The Academy extends its warmest thanks to all the institutions, companies, and individuals who contributed to the success of this session.
