Military
News and information on military issues, armaments, arms deals, army, navy, and air force.
Switzerland considers reopening its old military bunkers
Faced with the deteriorating security situation in Europe, the Swiss army is examining the possibility of reactivating its former military bunkers.
Swiss voters back stricter rules for conscientious objection
Swiss voters have backed imposing stricter rules for claiming conscientious objection to military service.
Switzerland wants to make foreigners carry out civil defence duties
Following a vote in the Swiss National Council, some foreigners in Switzerland could soon be made to take part in civil defence duties in the future.
Swiss eyeing fewer F-35 fighters, reshaping defence set-up
Switzerland announced Friday it wanted to buy 30 US F-35A fighter jets rather than 36 after Washington hiked the price, and said its broader defence set-up needed repurposing to face current threats.
European debate over nuclear weapons gains pace
European leaders, worried about threats from a nuclear-armed Russia and doubts about the future of US security commitments, are increasingly debating whether to bolster nuclear arsenals on the continent.
Europe calls for US reset at security talks
European leaders called Friday for a reset in relations with the United States as they met at a top security conference where US President Donald Trump's potshots at traditional transatlantic ties loomed large.
Cost overruns push Swiss to buy fewer F-35s
Switzerland will not be able to purchase all 36 American F-35 fighter jets in the near future as planned due to cost overruns announced by the United States, Bern said on Friday.
Threat of war: Which countries in Europe have military service?
The growing threat from Russia and the risk of renewed conflict in Europe have thrown a spotlight on the continent's varied military service models.
Switzerland cracks down on dual-nationals who skip military service
A decades-old agreement between Bern and Paris gives dual Swiss-French nationals a ‘way out’ of military service in Switzerland. But this is about to change.
How can Europe protect its skies against 'escalating' drone menace?
Drones flying over airports, commercial sites and other sensitive infrastructure in Europe is a growing phenomenon which EU leaders blame on Russia, and preventing the disruption they cause will prove a tough technical challenge, observers say.
Swiss seek mini-drone defence system
Switzerland's military said Friday it plans to acquire a defence system against "mini-drones", after several European countries recently reported incursions into their airspace, pointing the finger at Russia.
Swiss army seeks to resurrect once-secret combat bunkers
More than 100 old army fortresses are hidden across Switzerland. But why is the military interested in resurrecting these relics of a long-ago wartime era?
What do Swiss soldiers eat during their military service?
Switzerland's army may not be known for a Michelin-style gastronomy, but the soldiers can count on some classic dishes that have made a military history of their own.
US general advises Switzerland to 'prepare for war'
Despite its neutrality, Switzerland needs to get ready for the possibility of Russian ‘invasion,’ a high-ranking American general has warned.
Spurred by Trump turnabout, European nations debate conscription
Frightened by the prospect of US security disengagement and three years of Moscow's war against Ukraine, European countries are debating reinstating compulsory military service to boost their defences in the face of Russian aggression.
Europe's security is at a 'turning point', EU leader warns
Europe's security is at a turning point, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, as she arrived in Paris for an emergency meeting to address the US's shock policy shift on the war in Ukraine.
Do foreigners have to do military service in Switzerland?
Swiss authorities want foreign nationals who live in the country to be well integrated. But does this mean they have to serve in the armed forces?
Calls in Switzerland for foreign residents to help finance Swiss army
Switzerland’s military needs to increase its budget to improve its operational capability, and wants foreign men to help bankroll it.
Naturalised Swiss citizens to pay 'army tax' if they skip military service
Foreign men in Switzerland who obtained Swiss citizenship in their 30s will have to pay the military exemption tax, the country’s top court has ruled.
Swiss fighter jets to land on major motorway today
A section of Switzerland's A1 motorway will serve as a take-off and landing strip for Swiss military jets on two days in June.
EXPLAINED: Why does neutral Switzerland need an army?
Given that Switzerland has not fought in any wars since the mid-19th century, the question about why the neutral country needs an active military is a legitimate one.
Switzerland under renewed pressure to allow weapons exports to Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he hoped Bern would drop its longstanding opposition to sending Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine to refill depleted stocks.
Neutrality: Majority of Swiss now back closer ties with Nato
A year after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a majority in Switzerland now support closer ties with NATO, the government said Thursday -- a first in the country known for military neutrality.