Federal Councillor Martin Pfister visits armasuisse in Thun
On 16 May 2025, Federal Councillor Martin Pfister visited the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse in the General Herzog House in Thun for the first time since taking office on 1 April 2025. On site, the Head of the DDPS exchanged views on current topics and challenges with the top management of armasuisse. In addition, Federal Councillor Pfister gained multiple insights into the activities of the employees of the competence sector Science and Technology, as well as their contribution to the security of Switzerland.
Anela Ziko, Strategic Staff S+T, armasuisse Science and Technology
Martin Pfister was newly elected on 1 April 2025 as Federal Councillor and Head of Office of the largest Department, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS. It is not only the largest department, but also one that is being particularly challenged in this time currently characterised by unrest and uncertainty. Despite a tight schedule, Federal Councillor Pfister took the time to get to know the employees of the individual DDPS offices and their activities better and on a personal basis. On 16 May 2025, the visit to the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse was part of his schedule.
All-round view of armasuisse
The Head of the DDPS was welcomed by the National Armaments Director, Dr. Urs Loher, near the military training area in Thun, at the main location of the competence sector armasuisse Science and Technology. Here, the members of armasuisse’s top management showed him which topics are currently in the foreground and the challenges with which the office is confronted. One important topic is the new defence policy strategy which is currently being developed. This is groundbreaking for the future cooperation of armasuisse with its partners in the security policy environment. Other topics include offset, research and innovation as well as the DDPS real estate portfolio. Specifically, Federal Councillor Pfister was also given an insight into the reconnaissance drone system project ADS 15. Against the backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the project manager demonstrated and explained the drone system to him with a live overflight in Thun.
Savings of several millions through ammunition monitoring
The location Thun as armasuisse Science and Technology’s workplace is no coincidence. Over 30 years ago, the predecessor organisation was set up here as a measuring and test centre. Its mission – to test systems and their modes of action and thus ensure security. Today, our experts are still testing and assessing, on a daily basis, how effective protective equipment is against ballistic and detonating equipment and whether weapons systems and ammunition are still operational. Federal Councillor Pfister was able to see this for himself. Under the guidance of Dr. Patrick Folly, Head of Explosives and Ammunition Monitoring, the ammunition specialists demonstrated how armasuisse Science and Technology is extending the lifetime of ammunition beyond the manufacturer’s guarantee, thanks to decades of experience and focused ammunition monitoring. This leads to annual savings of more than 150 million Swiss Francs. At the same time, this work makes a contribution to the operational readiness and defence capability of the Swiss Armed Forces.
The present meets the future: Drones and robotics
In addition to testing, the areas of research and innovation are important pillars of armasuisse Science and Technology. The Head of the DDPS gained a small insight into these activities, including demonstrations by various robots, from the Swiss Drone and Robotics Centre SDRC. This supports the Swiss Armed Forces and other authorities in handling robotics in the security environment. Dr. Mark Höpflinger, Head of the SDRC, stated that we are at the start of a major technological revolution which is primarily driven by artificial intelligence and robotics, and which will be very disruptive both in the civilian and the military sectors.
Kai Holtmann, Managing Director of the Taskforce Drones (TFD), followed up here. It is no longer possible to imagine modern conflicts without drones. The Taskforce Drones aims to enable the Swiss Armed Forces to obtain drones and additional drone expertise quickly. A further goal is to manufacture drones as far as possible in Switzerland and minimise dependencies on international supply chains.
For the security of Switzerland
On his tour, Federal Councillor Pfister gained insights into the wide variety of tasks of armasuisse Science and Technology as a technology centre of the DDPS. He also found out about both the current and future subject areas and challenges. He was thus able to learn for himself, on site, about the contribution armasuisse makes to the security of Switzerland.
We thank the Head of the DDPS Martin Pfister for his visit and the associated appreciation of the work of all employees of armasuisse.
