Swiss army creates drone centre as unmanned warfare expands

A drone battalion is scheduled to join the Swiss army from 2028, supported by a specialised recruit school. The battalion will focus on reconnaissance and defence, giving unmanned systems a formal place in the army's force structure.

The planned unit represents a shift from treating drones as individual tools to organising personnel, training and missions around them. Reconnaissance can provide commanders with aerial observation, while defensive tasks may involve detecting, tracking or responding to hostile unmanned aircraft. The source does not state how many soldiers, drones or support vehicles the battalion will contain.

The recruit school will prepare military personnel for this specialised work. Training will have to cover more than flight controls. Operators need to understand surveillance, communications, mission planning and the limits imposed by Swiss law. The announcement gives no timetable for the school's opening beyond the army's 2028 target for the battalion.

The DDPS also says relevant regulations and the legal framework will be adapted. That process will determine how the army uses unmanned systems, how missions are authorised and how responsibilities are divided during operations near civilian areas or protected infrastructure.

For Switzerland's militia army, the creation of a dedicated school also raises practical questions about recruitment, instructor capacity and the retention of technical skills. None of those details has yet been published.

The army's timetable reflects a security environment in which unmanned aircraft now feature in hybrid conflicts and appear over protected Swiss locations. The DDPS says sightings and flights over military and critical infrastructure are increasing, although it has not released an incident count or identified those responsible.

That uncertainty shapes the task facing the new centre and battalion. Switzerland must be able to distinguish lawful activity from surveillance or other hostile conduct, assess threats and respond without disrupting civilian airspace. The announcement confirms a future reconnaissance and defence role, but does not disclose the sensors, counter drone systems or rules of engagement that will be used.

The project also places more responsibility on cooperation between military authorities and civilian specialists. Universities and industry will contribute research and technical knowledge, while the army defines operational needs. The legal changes announced by the DDPS will be central to how those capabilities are used around airports, energy facilities, communications networks and other sensitive sites.

The next milestones are the establishment of the centre, the development of its partnerships and the preparation of the recruit school. By 2028, Switzerland intends to have a dedicated drone battalion. Until then, the army will need to turn a broad strategic decision into trained personnel, tested equipment and clear operating procedures.