Switzerland’s Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) has announced further investment in both the use of drones and their defence. The 2027 Armaments Program provides additional funding to protect further infrastructure and units and to equip a new drone battalion.
“Because technologies are constantly and rapidly changing, the army wants to procure systems in a more targeted way, in smaller quantities and in shorter cycles,” DDPS said on 27 August. “Systems that prove successful will be quickly deployed in the troops and further developed based on the experience gained there.”
With the Center for Unmanned Systems, DDPS is creating a civil-military centre for drones and robotics. It consists of a tech hub and a military command. New solutions are to be jointly developed and tested at the hub and rapidly made available for military use. The military command tests new systems under conditions as realistic as possible. Insights gained by the armed forces are to be disseminated back to science and industry via the tech hub.
From 2028, the Swiss Army will deploy its own drone battalion for reconnaissance, operational capability and defence. Drone and counter-drone training will also be strengthened and a dedicated drone recruit school will be established.
Various authorities and agencies, as well as private infrastructure operators, are currently responsible for drone defence in Switzerland. An interdepartmental working group, led by DDPS, is currently reviewing existing responsibilities and legal frameworks and determining what adjustments are necessary in light of the changed threat landscape.
For more information
Image: DDPS
The 2026 Unmanned Airspace Global Counter-UAS Systems Directory is now available. The guide is the world’s only comprehensive, continually updated directory of global C-UAS companies and systems. It itemises over 1,000 C-UAS products and services with performance details, company sales and partnerships arrangements. It is updated every month and broken down into niche sub-sectors (net-capture, missiles, intercept drones, detectors etc) to give C-UAS procurement and industry personnel a unique perspective of global C-UAS technical capabilities and market positions. It is available in word, PDF and excel formats and Unmanned Airspace readers are eligible for a range of discounts. For more information about the Directory please contact the editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes at philip@unmannedairspace.info.