What is the objective of the joint exercise in the Canton of Bern?

The primary objective of the coordinated maneuver is to test and improve the defense of the critical infrastructures of the territory, with particular attention to the threat posed by drones. The exercise involves the Bernese cantonal police and the Swiss army side by side, involving strategic sites such as energy plants, telecommunications networks, the Meiringen military airport and the Gösgen nuclear power plant.

What technologies are used to counter drones?

During the hands-on demonstration on the Bantiger, operators used a dedicated handheld device to detect hostile aircraft and an interfering facility. This tool interrupts and disturbs the radio signal between the drone and the ground control station, forcing the aircraft to reverse course and return to the starting point in the vast majority of cases.

How long is the exercise and what areas are involved?

The four-day exercise began today and continues until Tuesday. The operations cover the entire Bern region and the evocative Bernese Oberland area, involving urban centres, rural areas and strategic mountains for the Swiss infrastructure network with the participation of the Army's Territorial Division 1.

Army and police train infrastructure protection (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 13 September 2026

Joint police and military exercise against drones in Bern

A four-day joint exercise focused on defending critical infrastructure against drones is underway in the Canton of Bern.

Context

In a nutshell

Four-day joint exercise in Canton Bern
Main focus on Critical Infrastructure Protection
Use of anti-drone devices on the Bantiger
Collaboration between cantonal police and army

Key facts

What : Drone protection drill
When: Started today, continues until Tuesday
Where: Canton Bern and Bernese Oberland, including Bantiger and Meiringen
Who: Bernese Cantonal Police and Swiss Army
Plants: Power plants, telecommunications, military airport and nuclear power plant

An important four-day joint exercise involving the cantonal police and the Swiss army has begun in the canton of Bern. The primary objective of this coordinated manoeuvre is to test and improve the defence of the territory's critical infrastructures, with a particular focus on the threat posed by drones. Among the strategic sites involved are energy plants and telecommunications networks, essential assets for public safety and the proper functioning of the cantonal and national economy. During a meeting with the media organized on the Bantiger, a relief located northeast of Bern, the cantonal police specialists concretely illustrated the operational methods envisaged to repel a possible air attack conducted by an unmanned aircraft against a transmission system.

The

Operational details

Air interference management requires strict protocols and perfect synchronization between the different forces in the field. As highlighted by Bernese police commander Christian Brenzikofer, any intervention must be carried out in strict compliance with the law, ensuring that the countermeasures adopted are always proportionate to the situation and understandable in the reasons. The complexity of drone defense makes a multidisciplinary approach indispensable that not only involves traditional law enforcement, but requires the active participation of the army, federal authorities and private or public managers responsible for the maintenance and operation of critical infrastructure. It is precisely this dense network of interdependencies that justifies the organisation of joint training on a large scale.

The technologies used in the field

During the practical demonstration held on the Bantiger, the operators showed the operation of the equipment provided for the monitoring and neutralisation of flying threats. Two cantonal police officers, constantly focused on monitoring the surrounding space, identified the approach of a drone considered hostile thanks to the help of a specific portable device, structurally similar to a mobile phone in size and versatility. Once the target was detected, the agents took action using the so-called

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Key points

The ongoing exercise, code-named Fides 26, represents a fundamental test to verify the effectiveness of security protocols and will continue uninterrupted until Tuesday. The operations involve close ground cooperation between the Bern Canton Police and Territorial Division 1 of the army, units specially trained to handle high-risk scenarios, including potential alerts linked to terrorist threats or wartime danger contexts. Tactical maneuvers and patrols are not concentrated in a single point, but extensively affect the entire region of Bern and the picturesque Bernese Oberland area, involving urban centers and rural or mountainous zones strategic for the Swiss infrastructure network.<br><br>### How to proceed and verify security<br><br>In the specific scenario simulated during the field maneuvers, the drone spotted by operators reacted to the disruption action by rapidly moving away from the designated sensitive target. This behavior allowed police patrols to track the aircraft's flight path, follow its movements from a distance, and ultimately trace and physically identify the pilot operating the system remotely. For those who live, work, or manage economic activities and strategic facilities in Switzerland, monitoring the evolution of security regulations and infrastructure protection protocols is essential to comply with current federal and cantonal standards. To delve deeper into aspects related to personnel management, economic stability, and financial and welfare planning tools in Swiss territory, we invite you to consult our salary and tax calculator.

Source: swissinfo.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the objective of the joint exercise in the Canton of Bern?: The primary objective of the coordinated maneuver is to test and improve the defense of the critical infrastructures of the territory, with particular attention to the threat posed by drones. The exercise involves the Bernese cantonal police and the Swiss army side by side, involving strategic sites such as energy plants, telecommunications networks, the Meiringen military airport and the Gösgen nuclear power plant.
What technologies are used to counter drones?: During the hands-on demonstration on the Bantiger, operators used a dedicated handheld device to detect hostile aircraft and an interfering facility. This tool interrupts and disturbs the radio signal between the drone and the ground control station, forcing the aircraft to reverse course and return to the starting point in the vast majority of cases.
How long is the exercise and what areas are involved?: The four-day exercise began today and continues until Tuesday. The operations cover the entire Bern region and the evocative Bernese Oberland area, involving urban centres, rural areas and strategic mountains for the Swiss infrastructure network with the participation of the Army's Territorial Division 1.