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Switzerland announced its intention to build a military drone battalion on Thursday, amid a rearmament trend across Europe.
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“From 2028, the army will deploy its own drone battalion for reconnaissance, operations and defence,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
The battalion will be backed up by a specialised recruitment and training programme.
The ministry outlined plans for a civilian-military centre for drones and robotics, consisting of a tech hub and a military command.
“New solutions are to be jointly developed, tested and quickly made usable for military use,” it said.
The defence ministry said drones, counter-drone defence and robotics were now a “strategic priority” for the landlocked Alpine country.
In recent years, drones have become increasingly prevalent in conflicts, used for surveillance and intelligence-gathering as well as for targeting enemy positions and conducting strikes, often with the help of artificial intelligence.
The Swiss defence ministry noted that it has seen an increase in the number of drone flights spotted over military and critical infrastructure.
The country’s first system for drone defence has already been introduced.
Switzerland’s long-standing position has been one of well-armed neutrality and the European country has mandatory conscription for men.
Swiss neutrality traces its roots back to 1516 and has been internationally recognised since 1815.
Additional sources • AFP