Switzerland Strengthens Anti-Drone Defenses Amid Rising Sightings

Switzerland is ramping up its anti-drone defenses to shield its military infrastructure due to a surge in drone sightings throughout Europe. The Swiss Army has assigned armasuisse, the federal defense procurement office, to procure the systems, following encouraging field trials conducted this summer, the government reported.

In response to these developments, armasuisse has prioritized acquiring defense systems against micro and mini drones. Additionally, framework agreements with three suppliers for commercial mini drones and accessories have been finalized, valued at 108 million Swiss francs ($136 million). The suppliers' names were not disclosed.

This announcement follows a meeting between Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister and his German counterpart, where the threat of drones was a significant topic. The urgency of the situation was underscored by recent drone sightings at Munich airport, which disrupted numerous flights.