On July 9, 2024, Switzerland officially took steps to enhance its military drone capabilities by establishing a “Drone Task Force” to address the increasing challenges posed by the modern use of drones in armed conflicts. Previously, Switzerland had only ordered six Hermes 900 HFE reconnaissance drones from the Israeli manufacturer Elbit Systems in 2015.
This announcement was made during a roundtable that brought together defense industry representatives and the Federal Department of Defense (DDPS) under the auspices of the Federal Office of Armaments (armasuisse). This meeting concluded with the announcement of the creation of the “Drone Task Force” in June 2024, signaling an awareness and proactive action regarding the vital role of drones in modern warfare. The ambitious project of this new unit is to independently develop small and medium-sized drones for attack and reconnaissance missions, with an emphasis on self-sufficiency in developing these technologies. The first tests of Swiss-made drones are scheduled for 2025.
In March 2024, the Swiss Army had already announced, through its chief, the intention to invest in drones. Nearly 800 million Swiss francs will be invested to test drones. These are not only for surveillance and reconnaissance but also for armed drones.
The Swiss parliamentary context has also reflected a growing concern for adapting to drone technologies. Over the last decade, Parliament has dealt with various aspects of drone usage, from the regulation of civilian drones to debates on military acquisitions. A notable example was the controversial purchase of six surveillance drones from the Israeli company Elbit in 2015 for 300 million francs, a project that encountered multiple delays, pushing the operational deployment of the drones to 2026.