The Swiss army continues to field test minidrones
Keystone-SDA
The Swiss army is conducting further field trials of minidrones, which can be used for reconnaissance or as precision weapons.
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The Swiss army says that “drones are increasingly expanding the possibilities for reconnaissance and attack”. Minidrones are used for reconnaissance and exploration missions and can gather intelligence without endangering human lives.
+ Read about the dilemma of producing military drones in neutral Switzerland
But “equipped with explosive charges, they become a precision weapon capable of fighting targets”, the army adds. On the Ukrainian front, their massive use has profoundly changed the way war is waged. Armies must therefore learn to protect their troops, vehicles, equipment and infrastructure against minidrones.
Trained in FPV piloting
For the Swiss army, the aim is to carry out early tests to learn how to master this technology. As part of the field trials scheduled for autumn 2025, it has already trained 20 recruits to fly First Person View (FPV) drones. This is an immersive mode of piloting, using FPV goggles to view live video feedback.
More recent trials carried out by the Defence UAV and Robotics Competence Centre were aimed at integrating FPV drone teams into combat formations. The aim is to test the interaction between drone intervention teams and combat formations.
The use of drones in crises and conflicts has become the norm, according to the Swiss army. In response to the growing number of threats, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) set up the Drone Task Force in June 2024.
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Swiss army expects to start manufacturing military drones by 2027
Adapted from French by AI/mga
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