Switzerland Fast-Tracks $136M Counter-Drone Defense After European Airspace Incursions

Switzerland announced Friday it’s accelerating anti-drone defense procurement with a $136 million investment, joining a growing list of European nations scrambling to counter mysterious drone incursions that have shut down airports and disrupted military operations across the continent.

The move comes as drone sightings forced Munich Airport to close three times in three days, stranding over 10,000 passengers and highlighting Europe’s vulnerability to small unmanned aircraft.

Swiss Army Authorizes Emergency Counter-UAS Procurement

The Swiss Army has tasked armasuisse, the federal office for defense procurement, with acquiring counter-drone systems following successful field trials conducted this summer, the government announced. “Based on these findings and in response to the increasing number of drone sightings, the Army had instructed armasuisse to prioritize procurement of defense systems against micro and mini drones,” the government said in a statement.

Separately, armasuisse signed framework agreements with three suppliers for commercial mini drones, accessories, and services worth 108 million Swiss francs ($136 million USD). The government did not name the suppliers.

The announcement came one day after Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister met with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius to discuss the escalating drone threat. “Drone attacks can also cause great damage,” Pfister told Swiss media. “Switzerland must therefore be able to cooperate with other armed forces. Stable relationships are important.”

Munich Airport Chaos Exposes European Vulnerability

The Swiss decision follows a chaotic 72 hours at Munich Airport, where unconfirmed drone sightings forced three separate shutdowns between October 2-4. German air traffic control restricted and then suspended flight operations multiple times, diverting 23 incoming flights and canceling 12 Munich-bound departures on Friday evening alone.

Over the three-day period, the disruptions affected more than 10,000 passengers during German Unity Day and the final weekend of Oktoberfest. Airport staff set up camp beds and provided blankets for stranded travelers sleeping in terminals.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called the incidents “a wake-up call” over the growing drone threat, urging “more financing and research” at national and European levels.

Switzerland Admits Defense Capability Gaps

Switzerland has acknowledged significant gaps in its counter-drone capabilities. The country’s defense minister admitted in September that Swiss forces cannot defend against all conceivable threats, specifically citing Russia’s drone incursions into Polish airspace as an example.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Pfister said when asked if drone attacks on future F-35 sites were realistic. “There have already been drone overflights, but we don’t know exactly who is behind them.” The government confirmed that mini-UAVs have been observed flying over Swiss military areas multiple times in 2025.

As a non-NATO member, Switzerland faces unique vulnerabilities. Pfister noted the country is “potentially vulnerable to blackmail” and emphasized the need for international cooperation on drone defense.

Part of Broader European Counter-Drone Push

Switzerland’s procurement acceleration fits within a broader European response to escalating drone incursions. EU defense ministers are fast-tracking a comprehensive “drone wall” defense system along the bloc’s eastern borders following fresh unidentified drone sightings over military installations across Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania.

The proposed infrastructure would combine detection sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, and automated response mechanisms across multiple countries. Denmark, Norway, and Poland have all recently suspended flights due to unidentified drones, while Romania and Estonia have accused Russia of airspace violations.

Russia has denied involvement in the incidents. President Vladimir Putin joked at a recent forum that he promised “not to send any more drones, neither to France nor to Denmark, Copenhagen.”

DroneXL’s Take

Switzerland’s rapid pivot toward counter-drone investment marks a watershed moment for the historically ‘neutral’ nation. Just weeks after admitting they lack the systems to defend against drone incursions, they’re now committing $136 million to close that gap – and doing it through international cooperation that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

The Munich airport disruptions proved to be the tipping point. When thousands of passengers are stranded by drones that may cost just a few hundred dollars each, the asymmetric threat becomes impossible to ignore. Switzerland watched German authorities scramble to respond, realized their own military bases face identical vulnerabilities, and moved decisively.

What’s particularly telling is the timing of Defense Minister Pfister’s meeting with his German counterpart – the announcement came exactly one day later. This suggests real-time intelligence sharing and coordinated procurement planning between nations that traditionally kept their defense strategies separate. For Switzerland, a country that’s maintained armed neutrality for over 170 years, this level of military cooperation represents a fundamental shift driven entirely by the drone threat.

The refusal to name the three suppliers suggests these may be rapid-deployment systems already proven in Ukraine or other conflict zones. With field trials completed this summer and framework agreements already signed, Switzerland appears to be buying off-the-shelf solutions rather than developing custom systems – a pragmatic choice when drone incursions are happening now, not years from future.

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