MUST is part of the Armed Forces Headquarters and is responsible for leading and developing intelligence and security operations within the Swedish Armed Forces. The head of MUST is Lieutenant General Thomas Nilsson, who took office on May 1, 2023.

MUST supports the Government and the Supreme Commander by:
• producing intelligence to support knowledge-building and decision-making
• providing early warnings about changes in the threat environment
• conducting security operations within the Armed Forces and supervising other authorities in matters of security protection and signals security
• coordinating the defence attaché system
• organizing and commanding the operational unit National Intelligence Unit (NUE).

Within the Armed Forces, MUST’s work is directed by the Supreme Commander. The Head of MUST leads intelligence and security operations within the Armed Forces and also serves as the organization’s Chief of Protective Security and Chief of Signals Security.

INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

The Intelligence Service monitors security policy and military developments in Sweden’s surrounding region and in other parts of the world that are relevant to Swedish foreign, security, and defence policy. The work involves collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating information and assessments regarding various actors’ intentions and capabilities.

MILITARY SECURITY SERVICE

The primary task of the Military Security Service is to prevent, detect, and counter security threats directed against the Armed Forces and its interests, both in Sweden and abroad.
Its operations focus on threats from foreign intelligence services and other hostile actors. The service oversees the Armed Forces’ security protection and works proactively to ensure that information relating to Sweden’s security is not disclosed, altered, or destroyed. It also ensures that only individuals deemed reliable from a security standpoint gain access to sensitive information or participate in activities vital to Sweden’s security.

The Military Security Service is also responsible for protecting the total defence communication and IT systems from intrusions, using signals protection and cryptographic methods.

MUST ANNUAL REVIEW 

Each year, MUST publishes an Annual Review presenting its assessment of global developments and the security threats facing Sweden and Swedish interests.
This review fulfills a government mandate requiring Must to produce an annual public overview of its defence intelligence and military security activities. In addition to this, Must chooses to present other relevant operations to provide as comprehensive a picture as possible within the limits of confidentiality.
 
 MUST Annual Report 2024 (pdf, 2 MB)