Taskforce Drones tests the technological maturity of attack and defence drones
Bern, 17.12.2025 — From 8 to 19 December 2025, Swiss attack and defence drones will be tested at the Hinterrhein (GR) shooting range. The goals are a market survey and a qualitative assessment of the drone systems used, in order to estimate the maturity of the technology. The technical trials will be carried out by the Taskforce Drones with the participation of the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse, the Swiss Armed Forces and other partners. They aim to accelerate the capability development of the military in the field of drones and bring together industry, science and the military.
The goal of the technical trials is to assess the capabilities and the technological maturity of small attack and defence drones under real conditions and to examine their military application. The trials are part of a market survey and a qualitative assessment. They show which technologies already function at an operational level, where boundaries exist and the areas in which industry needs to develop.
In predefined flight scenarios controllability, durability, reactive behaviour and the effectiveness of the attack and defence drones are examined. The drones fly without weapons or with inert payloads.
The results will be used by the Taskforce Drones as the basis for further capability development in the area of drones and drone defence, however they do not guarantee any follow-up procurements. Modern conflicts show that these capabilities are becoming increasingly important to protect troops and to strengthen the defence capability of the Armed Forces.
The tests will take place on the closed off terrain and in the reserved airspace of the Hinterrhein shooting range in Grisons. This enables complex flights to be carried out and thus to generate extensive insights.
Swiss drone ecosystem
The tested systems originate mainly from Swiss suppliers from industry and science. Switzerland has strong partnerships with universities and an excellent Security-relevant Technology and Industry Base (STIB) with key areas such as robotics, sensory analysis, autonomy and artificial intelligence – skills that are key for modern drone technology. The Taskforce Drones strengthens these developments systematically, to minimise dependency on foreign countries, to retain security-relevant expertise within Switzerland and to develop a sustainable Swiss drone ecosystem for the long term, which can react quickly to new technological developments.
Taskforce Drones
As a reaction to growing threats, the DDPS founded the Taskforce Drones in June 2024. It is led by Thomas Rothacher, Deputy National Armaments Director and Head of the competence sector armasuisse Science and Technology. The clients are the Chief of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Thomas Süssli and the National Armaments Director Urs Loher.