The Swiss army conducted new field tests with mini-drones in Elm (GL) on Monday in the presence of the media. The tests aim to master these versatile devices, which can be used for reconnaissance but also transformed into precision weapons.
Within the Swiss army, “drones are increasingly expanding the possibilities in terms of reconnaissance and attack,” the press invitation stated. Mini-drones are indeed used for reconnaissance and exploration missions, allowing for gathering intelligence without putting human lives in danger.
However, “equipped with explosive charges, they become a precision weapon capable of attacking targets,” the army describes. Their widespread use on the Ukrainian front has profoundly changed the way warfare is conducted: armies must therefore learn to protect their troops, vehicles, equipment, and infrastructure against mini-drones.
For the Swiss army, it is crucial to conduct early tests to learn how to master this technology. In the fall of 2025, as part of field tests, 20 recruits were already trained in piloting drones using First Person View (FPV) goggles for real-time video feedback.
Like in 2025, the tests carried out on Monday in Elm by the Drone and Robotics Competence Center of Defense aimed to integrate FPV drone teams into combat formations. At the Wichlen shooting range, the goal was to test the interaction between drone intervention teams and combat formations, as well as to develop intervention procedures.
The use of drones in crises and conflicts has become the norm, according to the Swiss army. Faced with the increasing threats, the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection, and Sport established the Drone Task Force in June 2024.
Source: ats/boi
