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This essay examines the role of Swedish defense attachés in supporting Sweden’s defense industry, with a specific focus on Austria during the Cold War (1957–1981). Previous research addresses how attachés aided defense authorities and industry in matters related to the sale and procurement of defense materiel. The research problem examines whether Swedish defense attachés provided sales support prior to its formal inclusion in their mandate in 1985, and if so, how their efforts were conducted and evolved over time. 

The theoretical framework is based on "communities of practice", highlighting the informal networks and shared norms that shaped the actions of attachés, diplomats, and defense industry representatives. The inductive methodology involves a qualitative textual analysis of archival documents, including official reports and internal correspondence. 

The findings reveal that Swedish defense attachés provided both direct and indirect support to defense export efforts, despite their official mandates not including such efforts until 1985. This support included strategic reporting, direct information exchange with Swedish industry, as well as marketing and demonstrations of defense products. The results also highlight variations in the extent of support, with significant direct involvement between 1965 and 1967, particularly by attaché Gustaf Hamilton in support of SAAB, and a shift to a more indirect role after 1968 related to changes in political circumstances and organizational structure within the Swedish attaché corps. 

The study contributes new insights into the informal practices that shaped Swedish defense diplomacy and export strategies during the Cold War, illustrating the contrast between formal policy and actual practice. The findings open avenues for comparative studies of defense attachés’ roles in other contexts and countries.