The Swiss Armed Forces will no longer sell military bunkers to individuals and organizations, SwissInfo reports. According to the country's Defense Minister Thomas Sussley, the army should not be put out of action by "several missile and bomb attacks."
The Swiss Armed Forces are stopping the sale of old long-term firing positions in the mountains, the so-called "bunkers". This decision was made in connection with the conflict in Ukraine. In addition, as stated on Monday, September 18, 2023, the "chief of the army" (the highest military position in peacetime) Thomas Sussley, the army intends to rebuild the entire order of military studies.
For example, the country's Air Force will be trained to operate based on improvised air bases. Currently, the country's military leadership is also conducting an inventory of existing command posts and defensive combat support facilities, including long-term firing positions in the mountains. "We have to take (into service) what we already have," Thomas Sussley stressed. — Even if many such bunkers have already been declassified and their location is known to everyone, still, even they may have military significance. In any case, the armed forces should not be put out of action by just a few rocket and bomb attacks."
In August 2023, the military leadership already announced that the Swiss armed forces would henceforth pay more attention to self-defense. "We should always first of all be able to organize the defense of our own units and formations, as well as warehouses, before we defend others," Thomas Sussley said.
Switzerland also intends to strengthen counterintelligence activities. Further measures will concern the order of supply of the Armed Forces and the development of military infrastructure. Thomas Sussley refused to give details. He was particularly laconic when answering, in particular, the question about the ammunition reserves at the disposal of the country.
Recall that now the facilities producing ammunition belong to the Italian manufacturer of weapons and military optics Beretta. "It would be good if Switzerland had a certain autonomy in the field of ammunition," Thomas Sussley pointed out.
The sale of Swiss munitions factories to foreign companies was a political decision. "But now, in the event of a crisis, we may have problems. That is why we are now forming additional reserves," Zussli said. As an example, he cited the decision to start accumulating spare parts for F-35 fighters, which are soon to enter service with the Air Force.
According to him, the Swiss armed forces are already cooperating with the armies of other countries. "In an emergency situation, of course, this system will not work immediately. But at the same time, for example, NATO members should not underestimate Switzerland's contribution to maintaining stability in Kosovo. To what extent will Switzerland take on additional tasks there?
Concrete decisions have not yet been made here. But Switzerland could make its contribution in the field of cyber defense and countering nuclear, biological and chemical threats," Sussley said. Recall that at the summer session, the Swiss Parliament extended the Swiss peacekeeping mission in Kosovo until 2026.