Switzerland will create a drone battalion by 2028 as the government refocuses the army on defending against hybrid threats and long-range attacks.
The Federal Council approved new defense guidelines on Friday, which also include prioritizing protecting critical infrastructure, gathering intelligence and using electronic warfare, according to a government statement.
The new drone battalion “forms the foundation for the systematic introduction of unmanned systems and responds to the rapid technological advancements in this field,” the government said. “The Army will work closely with Swiss universities, industry, and startups.”
Switzerland’s new army chief Benedikt Roos previously told Bloomberg that the country has been buying anti-drone systems “as quickly as possible” as incursions over civilian and military infrastructure mount. The equipment faced its first live test as part of security arrangements for the Group of Seven summit in neighboring Evian, France, earlier this week.
Written by: Bastian Benrath-Wright @Bloomberg
The post “Swiss to Set Up Drone Battalion to Defend Against Hybrid Threats” first appeared on Bloomberg