"Israeli drone headache continues for Swiss army" Swissinfo.ch. Key Points

Key Points:

1. Drone Procurement Challenges:

Switzerland ordered six Hermes 900 HFE drones (ADS 15) from Israeli company Elbit in 2015.

Persistent technical issues have delayed the drones’ operational readiness until 2029, instead of 2019 as initially planned.

2. Collision Avoidance Issues:

The drones require reprogramming to avoid collisions with obstacles, such as paragliders.

The "detect and avoid" system presents significant risks in technical feasibility, regulatory approval, and cost.

3. Helicopter Escort Concerns:

Without proper programming, the drones would need an escort, such as a helicopter or another aircraft, to avoid collisions.

Critics argue this defeats the purpose of acquiring drones, as helicopters are noisy, less discreet, and cannot fly as high.

4. Political and Financial Criticism:

The parliamentary finance committee expressed doubts about Ruag’s ability to fix the problems.

There are concerns about slow development, increased costs, and limited operational suitability without a functioning avoidance system.

The finance committee highlighted significant delays and risks in other key defence projects totaling CHF19 billion.

5. Contractual Disputes Resolved:

Armasuisse and Ruag had disagreements over the contract’s scope, but these have been resolved without additional costs.

External reports confirm the feasibility of programming solutions, though skepticism remains.

6. Autonomous Landing Without GPS:

A Swiss requirement for autonomous drone landing without GPS has been another challenge.

Elbit offered adaptations, but initial trust in success proved overly optimistic.

7. Increased Oversight:

The finance committee intends to strengthen its supervision of the defence ministry due to the growing risks and delays.

Source :

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-politics/israeli-drone-headache-continues-for-swiss-army/88673964

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