The Swiss army focuses on drones: the 2026 strategy

Context

At a Glance

• Swiss Army: New drone center of excellence and specialized battalion
• Drone recruit school starting in 2028; funding in the policy phase
• Expert Gilli (Hertie School): The right direction, but with limitations in scale
• Switzerland ahead of Austria; AI and high-power lasers among the advantages

Key Facts

• What: Swiss Army focuses on drones with a new center of excellence, battalion, and recruit school
• When: Recruit school starting in 2028; analysis in August 2026
• Where: Switzerland; technological research in Zurich and Lausanne
• Who: DDPS, analyst Mauro Gilli (Hertie School Berlin)
• Context: The war in Ukraine has lasted nearly 5 years; military strategies have been transformed
• Funding: Under discussion at the federal level
• Comparison: Switzerland is further ahead than Austria in its preparations

The Army’s Modernization Efforts and Drone Strategy

The Swiss Army is accelerating its pace toward technological modernization. On the ground, this involves the launch of a new center of excellence dedicated to unmanned aerial vehicles, and on the political front, it includes debates on the funding of these new capabilities. The initiative includes a new specialized battalion and a recruit school set to open in 2028—a sign of medium-term strategic investment in a sector that the war in Ukraine, now in its nearly fifth year, has made central to modern operations.

But is what Switzerland is doing enough, compared to neighboring powers? Mauro Gilli, professor of military strategy and technology at the Hertie School in Berlin, spoke to SEIDISERA about this. The direction Switzerland is taking is the same as that of the vast majority of Western countries, Gilli explains. It involves seeking greater automation and greater reliance on emerging modern technologies, such as drones. However, whether this is sufficient or adequate for modern needs remains very difficult to say for any country. These are precisely the lessons learned from military conflicts.

Is Switzerland Ahead of Its Neighbors? A Comparison with Austria and Germany

When discussing the adequacy of defense, comparisons with neighboring countries become inevitable. But not all comparisons are appropriate. Germany, due to its size and the role it plays in Europe and NATO, faces different threats than France and Italy, and finds itself in a situation completely different from all the others, Gilli points out.

For Switzerland, the most sensible comparison is with Austria. And from this perspective, the available data suggests a Swiss advantage: based on the information available, Switzerland appears to be further ahead in the development and adoption of drone systems.

Operational details

The Advantages and Limitations of the Swiss Supply Chain

A nation’s ability to equip itself with drones and defense technologies depends not only on strategic intentions but also on industrial realities. A study recently published by Gilli’s former colleagues at ETH Zurich shed light on this very aspect.

According to the study, Switzerland enjoys “significant advantages due to the fact that it is a highly technologically advanced country with a sophisticated industrial base across multiple sectors.” However, there is a flip side to the coin. “There is a problem of scale. In practice, it is very difficult to have the capacity to produce all these components or to procure all the necessary materials in the required quantities,” explains Gilli. Le aziende svizzere leader nel settore aerospaziale e tecnologico si confrontano quotidianamente con questa sfida di scalabilità.

The problem is further complicated by the accelerated product cycle of modern warfare. Drones, which are state-of-the-art today, can become obsolete within a matter of months. “Within a few months, drones can go from being the most advanced technology to being obsolete, precisely because the adversary has developed countermeasures.” This continuous acceleration of the cycle of measures and countermeasures makes it difficult to maintain a stable technological advantage.

Lack of Consensus Among Experts: Caution vs. Massive Innovation

Contrary to what is sometimes claimed, there is no universal agreement that drones should be the top priority for future military investments. No, there is no consensus—that much is clear. On the one hand, some analysts and experts advocate for a more widespread adoption of these new technologies. On the other hand, there are other analysts, experts, and commentators who suggest greater caution.

And why is that? The history of warfare is a history marked by a continuous cycle of measures and countermeasures. Military revolutions are not all that frequent. This divergence of opinion among experts serves as a reminder that military investment decisions remain complex and subject to differing assessments, even within the community of military strategists and technologists. There is therefore no single, unambiguous position that favors drones as the definitive solution.

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Key points

Drone Defense: AI and High-Power Lasers as Swiss Keys

While drone attacks have become a central concern, the ability to defend against them is equally critical. On this front, publicly available information is very limited, Gilli admits. But this is precisely where one of Switzerland’s strengths lies.

The country—and in particular cities like Zurich and Lausanne—boasts world-class scientific and technological research centers. These universities and institutes have developed a highly advanced technological and industrial base in precisely those sectors that are key to neutralizing drones. Which sectors? First, artificial intelligence, which is key to identifying, detecting, and recognizing enemy drones. Second, other more physical technologies such as high-powered lasers that cause mechanical problems for drones by heating them up. These research and development capabilities position Switzerland not only as an importer of technology but also as a potential producer of defense solutions.

Implications for the Swiss Research and Technology Sector

The Swiss Army’s plan to develop new in-house expertise in drones has broader implications. It means investing in national research in critical sectors (AI, sensor technology, defense materials), which in turn could generate skilled jobs at Swiss centers of excellence. The 2028 deadline for launching the drone recruit school signals a concrete medium-term commitment. It is a sign of both strategic ambition and the need to train in-house personnel capable of operating and maintaining these systems.

For those interested in careers in the defense, research, and technological innovation sectors in Switzerland, this represents a concrete window of opportunity. The AI and advanced technology research centers in Zurich and Lausanne offer growing career prospects.

What to Expect in the Coming Months

Funding for the drone development strategy remains in the political phase. This means that the federal debate over the resources to be allocated will continue. In the meantime, the military will continue its operational preparations. The central question remains: How much should we invest today in a technology that could become obsolete tomorrow? For Switzerland, the answer seems to be finding a balance: making informed strategic choices and leveraging the advantages of its technological and industrial base, but without deluding itself that drones are the ultimate military solution. Learn more about Switzerland’s economic and technological landscape with il nostro calcolatore per la pianificazione economica personale.

Source: rsi.ch