Colonel (Col) (Swedish: överste, öv) is the most senior field grade military officer rank in the Swedish Army and the Swedish Air Force, immediately above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general.

It is equivalent to the naval rank of captain in the Swedish Navy.

[3] Överste ("Colonel") is the name for the highest regimental officer rank.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, a famous soldier was commissioned to recruit a regiment and was then appointed colonel at the head of it.

To the extent that the recruitment was immediately taken over by the state, the colonels began to be appointed by the king as well as the other officers.