Switzerland studies military deception with NATO partners
A workshop in Thun already took place in January. It shows how armasuisse links civilian and military experts – without announcing a procurement.
Switzerland is working with NATO partners on how military deception can remain effective under modern reconnaissance. To this end, armasuisse and the NATO Science and Technology Organization, or STO, brought together more than 90 experts from academia, industry and defence in Thun. The workshop took place on 14 and 15 January 2026, not in November.
The announcement on the armasuisse website carries a publication note dated 6 November but explicitly names the January dates in the text. This does not indicate either a second meeting or a research project that has since been completed. What is described publicly is an exchange on technical approaches and the search for joint research objectives.
Drones and satellites are changing reconnaissance
armasuisse justifies the need for research with better reconnaissance capabilities. Sensors on drones and satellites, their networking and AI-supported analysis have increased the ability to detect military activities. Deception must therefore be further developed technically. The federal office regards it as part of future defence capability.
According to the organizers, the focus in Thun was on new materials and manufacturing processes as well as methods for assessing the effectiveness of deception measures. Industry representatives presented existing products. The announcement does not publish concrete test results, a ranking of solutions or a purchasing decision. Nor does it contain a complete list of the companies and research institutions involved.
More access to research since March 2025
The cooperation is not based on an alliance created specifically for this workshop. armasuisse already represents Switzerland in the STO and participates in selected research activities within the Partnership for Peace. An expanded role was added in March 2025: Switzerland was admitted to the Science and Technology Enhanced Partnership.
armasuisse explained this step on 7 April 2025. On the basis of its previous research contributions, Switzerland had been invited to take part regularly in meetings of the Science and Technology Board. This steering committee manages scientific and technological cooperation. For the meeting from 7 to 9 April in Brussels, the federal office announced that it would present its own priorities in research and technology development.
According to NATO, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Ukraine are also part of this expanded research partnership. It enables participation in strategic exchange and in joint research and development work. The topics go beyond military deception: NATO names medicine, sensor technology, cybersecurity as well as propulsion and energy systems, among others.
A framework for selected cooperation
The broader cooperation between Switzerland and NATO is set out in an individually tailored partnership programme. The FDFA published the agreed objectives for 2025 to 2028 on 18 December 2025. It explicitly describes the programme as not legally binding. The Federal Council sets the thematic priorities for it; within this framework, joint objectives are agreed.
According to the FDFA, these include political dialogue and better interoperability of the army, for example in communication systems or the air force. Space issues, resilience as well as arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation are added. This breadth explains why research activities sit alongside other forms of security policy cooperation.
Switzerland has participated in the Partnership for Peace since 1996. NATO describes the cooperation as aligned with Swiss neutrality and shared practical interests. The FDFA also considers the activities of the partnership programme compatible with neutrality. Research participation is therefore not an announcement of NATO membership.
From product presentation to procurement, steps remain open
According to armasuisse, the Thun workshop served to exchange experience and connect civilian and military partners. Knowledge from other states is to flow into Swiss capability development. Which of the technologies discussed are suitable for this cannot be answered by such a meeting alone.
For a later assessment, published test results and concrete project or procurement decisions would be more informative than the number of participants. The workshop announcement does not present such results. It documents which questions the participants are working on – not that a new deception system has already been ordered for the Swiss Army or is ready for use.
Sources
- armasuisse: Research workshop on deception technologies, meeting on 14 and 15 January 2026
- armasuisse: Participation in the Science and Technology Board, 7 April 2025
- FDFA: Switzerland–NATO cooperation objectives 2025 to 2028
- NATO: Relations with Switzerland and research partnership
- Cover image: Zinneke, Federal Palace Bern
- Article image: Victorgrigas, servers of the Wikimedia Foundation
- License for both images: CC BY-SA 3.0
