Switzerland restructures army for defense against hybrid threats, plans drone battalion by 2028
On Friday, the Swiss Federal Council unveiled comprehensive reform plans to shift the army from a training force to an operational one, with a new drone battalion by 2028, streamlined command structures, and a focus on hybrid threats and long-range attacks.
Defense shift driven by threat landscape
The Swiss government is responding to what Defense Minister Martin Pfister described as a worsened threat situation. The army will move from its current primary role as a training organization to an operational force capable of protecting the population and critical infrastructure.
Future operations will center on hybrid threats, combinations of sabotage, cyberattacks, strikes on data centers and nuclear plants, and propaganda, as well as long-range missile attacks.Today the army is essentially a training army.
Command overhaul and leaner structures
All ground missions will be led by operational divisions, replacing the existing arrangement with clear rules of responsibility, the Federal Council said. The top command will be restructured into the Chief of the Armed Forces with an army staff, a training command, an operations command encompassing the Land Forces, Air Force, Cyber Command, and Support Command. The reform cuts the number of higher staff officers and streamlines staffs to enable continuous leadership across all situations. Necessary legal amendments will be submitted to parliament by 2029.
Drone battalion and technology push
By 2028, the army plans to raise its first drone battalion, forming the backbone for the systematic deployment of unmanned systems.
The defense ministry intends to collaborate closely with Swiss universities, industry and startups to integrate emerging technologies. Electronic warfare, drone defense, and protection of networks and data are key modern capabilities in the planning.This forms the core for the systematic introduction of unmanned systems and accounts for the rapid technological development in this area.
Investment focus through 2039
Approximately 80 percent of armament investments will flow into capabilities addressing the most probable threats: air defense, troop protection, drone operations and counter-drone measures, and cybersecurity for critical systems. The remaining 20 percent goes to maintaining abilities to repel a full military attack. The Federal Council stated that "where possible, classic means are compensated with modern and more cost-effective technologies."
- Most probable threats (air defense, drones, cyber)
- 80 %
- Comprehensive military attack defense
- 20 %
Financing via VAT hike and special fund
The reforms follow the Council's earlier proposal to inject an extra 31 billion Swiss francs into defense, to be financed from the regular army budget and a temporary VAT increase limited to ten years. The money would flow into a dedicated armaments fund starting in 2028. The VAT hike is unpopular with the public, according to a 20 Minuten report, but the government sees it as essential to fund the transformation.
- Federal Council announces defense reform and new guidelines
- First drone battalion to be operational
- Legal amendments submitted to parliament
- 80% of armament investments directed at most probable threats
