HEDI: First operative testing with Swiss participation
On 2 June 2025, the go-ahead was given for the first Operational Experimentation campaign as part of the Hub for EU Defence Innovation of the European Defence Agency at EU level. Switzerland took part in the informative Operational Experimentation campaign with a delegation consisting of two representatives from Defence as well as the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse.
Anela Ziko and Moana Häfeli, Staff, armasuisse Science and Technology
In brief
As an official HEDI member, Switzerland is also actively involved in the first operative test campaign of the Hub for EU Defence Innovation (HEDI) of the European Defence Agency (EDA). The focus of the Operational Experimentation (OPEX) campaign is to test modern unmanned air and ground systems under realistic operating conditions. The goal of the Swiss delegation is to examine future contributions from Switzerland as well as participation in the next OPEX campaign.
At the beginning of June this year, the European Defence Agency (EDA) started its first Operational Experimentation (OPEX) campaign at EU level – with the goal of testing modern unmanned air and ground systems under realistic operating conditions in Italy. As part of the Hub for EU Defence Innovation (HEDI) of the EDA, this initiative offers a platform for bringing together innovation stakeholders, military end users and skilled personnel together and systematically accelerating military skill development through operative testing. The unmanned air and ground systems also offer particularly interesting aspects, especially for logistics.
Goals of Swiss participation
Switzerland has been an official HEDI member since the end of 2024 – and is already actively participating in this first OPEX campaign: Swiss technical experts and end users from Defence and armasuisse are currently involved as observers and technical contributors on site in Italy. This Swiss delegation’s goal is to evaluate specific connecting factors for future contributions from Switzerland, with, for example, unmanned air and ground systems as well as participation in next year’s OPEX campaign – through industrial solutions, technical expertise or operational cooperations.
OPEX campaign: a sign of international cooperation
The OPEX campaign is symbolic of a paradigm shift – from static concept development to an integrated and practice-oriented innovation at European level. This is a strong signal for Europe’s defence capability – and a constructive step towards a trusting, transnational innovation culture.
It was impressively demonstrated how today’s battlefield is massively changed through the use of unmanned air and ground systems. While drones have been in operation for years, many nations and companies are now developing unmanned ground systems for a wide range of deployments. However, doctrines and procedures do not yet exist in many cases. For the Swiss Armed Forces, this offers the opportunity to develop these in cooperation with partner states, thus ensuring interoperability in this area.
Conclusion and outlook
Our thanks to HEDI and EDA for organising this informative event – the largest of its kind to date in Europe. It is to be developed and held annually in future. The international exchange is important for Switzerland, to always be up to date with the latest information and thus able to make a specific contribution for the defence capability of Switzerland.
The OPEX will be held in an extended framework in 2026. Swiss robotics research and industry would be able to test their systems in a realistic environment here and exchange ideas with users.