hadtudomány

Hadtudomány (Hungarian for military science) is the academic discipline that studies war, armed forces, defense and security policy. It encompasses strategy, doctrine, tactics, logistics, organization, military technology, and related areas. Scholars analyze how military forces are designed, how campaigns are planned and conducted, how resources are allocated, and how new technologies alter warfare and peacetime security.

Subfields include military history, strategic studies, operations research, defense economics, defense policy, logistics, cyber security, space security, and the ethics and law of armed conflict. Methods commonly used are historical analysis, quantitative modeling, simulations, wargaming, and comparative case studies. Hadtudomány has evolved from classical strategic thought to modern, professionalized defense studies, with significant development during the 20th century through operations research and, since the end of the Cold War, an expanded emphasis on security studies, technology, and international law.

Educational and research activities occur at universities, military academies, and defense institutes, often in cooperation with related disciplines such as political science, engineering, economics, and law. The field informs defense planning, procurement, doctrine development, and crisis management, while engaging ethical and legal questions such as international humanitarian law and the ethics of emerging weapons systems.