Counter-drone: Swiss Armed Forces have Armasuisse procure systems against micro and mini drones

The Swiss Armed Forces want to expand their counter-drone defence against micro and mini drones with modern systems and are pushing ahead with their procurement. The Federal Office for Defence Procurement, Armasuisse, has now been given the task. The armed forces had already gained initial experience in a field trial in summer 2025. The systems are to be semi-mobile so that they are also available for subsidiary operations in which the armed forces support civilian authorities.

Type selection will follow once the ongoing invitation procedure is completed. According to the armed forces, the systems are to be introduced “promptly”.

The Swiss Armed Forces have been using mini drones for years: for reconnaissance and surveillance, to support command with situation-specific information, and in training. The new defence systems are to make it possible to detect hostile drones early, jam them in a targeted manner and neutralise them if necessary.

Framework contracts worth around 116 million euros

Independently of the planned defence systems, Armasuisse has concluded framework contracts with three suppliers worth a total of around 116 million euros. Through them, the Defence Group and other federal offices can obtain commercially available micro, mini and small drones, including accessories and services, flexibly and as required.

The aim is to ensure ongoing access to the most modern drone technology available, even though the technology is evolving rapidly. The contracts went to two German companies, Dronesperhour (Berlin) and Dronivo (Ludwigshafen), and to Fieldwork, a Swiss company from Bühler.

All three are civilian firms focusing on software, technical support and consulting in the field of unmanned systems.

Counter-drone defence to grow “vigorously”

At a meeting in Berlin with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, Defence Minister Martin Pfister announced that Switzerland would expand its cooperation with Germany within the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). Through the initiative, the two countries aim to protect European airspace more effectively against ballistic and unmanned threats.

At the same time, Pfister admitted that Switzerland has “a great deal of catching up to do” in protecting against drone attacks. The armed forces would now “vigorously push ahead” with the corresponding measures.