Published on 15 April 2026
Taskforce Drones - Questions and answers
Taskforce Drones - General
The Taskforce Drones was launched in June 2024 and has had dedicated finances available since February 2025. The Taskforce will be active up to and including 2027.
Complete independence is not realistic. However, dependencies should be reduced by Switzerland strengthening its own drone ecosystem and orientating itself increasingly to military applications.
Strengthening defence capability with Swiss drones, by:
- providing the Swiss Armed Forces with drones for testing, to accelerate capability building
- developing and manufacturing drones in Switzerland as far as possible, to reduce dependencies
The Taskforce Drones deals with the following key areas:
- Attack drones
- Drones for drone defence (C-UAV)
- Swarming
- Carrier platforms
- Multi-purpose drones
The Swiss Armed Forces already has drones of various sizes for reconnaissance.
The goal of the Taskforce Drones is the development of skills in the area of drones with effect.The following work has already been carried out:
- initial contracts implemented with suppliers
- first Swiss drone systems technically tested
- first Swiss Army members trained on attack drones and appropriate training concepts validated
- tactical scenarios and appropriate requirements formulated, as well as the military scenarios validated in trials with the troops
The Taskforce Drones is an inter-agency project of the DDPS with the cooperation of other departments. The following are involved in the work:
- Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS
- Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse: all competence sectors
- Swiss Armed Forces: Joint Operations Command (in particular the Competence Centre Drones and Robotics Defence), Armed Forces Staff, Training and Education Command, Armed Forces Cyber Command, Armed Forces Logistics Organisation AFLO
- State Secretariat for Security Policy SEPOS
- Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER
- State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
- Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS
Small and medium-sized drones dominate crises and wars today. The Taskforce Drones brings together the military and civilian partners in the drone sector to find the best solutions for all those involved. The aim is to build up a Swiss drone ecosystem, sustainable in the long-term, which can react quickly to new technological developments.
Techncal testing
Technical testing involves trials. During this testing, systems and materials from partners in industry and science are examined regarding their requirements and development status under real conditions.
The detailed goals can vary. However, the focus is on assessing the current state of the art. Technical testing usually takes place in closed-off areas and in reserved airspaces. This enables complex flights to be carried out and thus to generate extensive insights.
Testing ground
Available shooting ranges are already being examined all over Switzerland as regards their suitability for drone testing. It is the goal of the Taskforce Drones to expand the availability of testing grounds. No further information can be issued at the moment as the discussions are ongoing.
The Taskforce is currently seeking solutions to be able to make infrastructures and test options available to representatives from science and industry.
There are different shooting ranges and military training areas in which the airspace can be used for drone testing, provided these are not otherwise occupied. These are the shooting ranges/military training areas in: Bière, Hongrin, Hinterrhein, Simplon, Säntis, Isone, Bure.
Cooperation with the Taskforce Drones
Project proposals can be submitted to taskforce.drohnen@ar.admin.ch. The Taskforce will check these entries and then get in touch with you.