Development of an armasuisse site at Payerne in la Broye
armasuisse is implementing an ecosystem comprising a work site in Payerne through its research and innovation operations. armasuisse is cooperating closely to that end with partners from, COREB, swiss aeropole Swiss Aeropole, cantonal economic development agencies and academic circles. The first armasuisse research projects at Payerne are scheduled from 2026.
Anela Ziko, Staff Communications, armasuisse Science and technology
Payerne military air base is located in the intercantonal region of la Broye. It is Switzerland’s main military airfield and the F-35A jets will take off and land there. The DDPS concluded an agreement with the region in September 2024 whereby the introduction of the F-35A is accompanied by ongoing economic development in the region. Armasuisse, swiss aeropole and COREB are working closely together to implement this agreement.
Payerne as an armasuisse site
A working group “Emploi et innovation” (employment and innovation) managed by the Strategic staff of armasuisse has been working since late 2024 on the economic side of the project. The aim is to identify and realise all economic development opportunities and to be able to contribute to the creation of an ecosystem over the medium term in the la Broye region covered by COREB through research and innovation activities.
The working group is currently developing solutions in the areas of space, energy, cybersecurity and drones. This will bring new jobs to the Science and Technology division of armasuisse at Payerne, for five years initially.
Initial projects at Payerne from 2025
The managers of the four areas – space, energy, cybersecurity and drones – are currently planning to strengthen their presence in Payerne through targeted projects. The first stages will begin from this year with five workstations in the swiss aeropole coworking space in Payerne, plus two events: Energy Day in August (link to register) and a hackathon in November 2025, both organised by armasuisse Science and Technology staff.
From 2026, the first research projects will have to be led from Payerne in collaboration with partners from academia, industry (SME) and the DDPS. The plan is to move into armasuisse premises on site around the start of summer 2026 where up to ten armasuisse employees will work over the long term and extra places will be available for students and third parties involved in research projects.