After several delays, the Confederation announced a postponement until the end of 2026. So far, five of the six drones ordered have been delivered, according to the most recent information from armasuisse. The organization and methodology of the project present weaknesses, estimates the CDF in an audit published Wednesday. And to criticize in particular “overly ambitious objectives, incomplete planning and management, insufficient risk and quality management”.
A project that must be clarified “urgently”
“Due to the lack of overall project planning, it is not possible to reliably assess its progress and determine when the system will be completed at the earliest. Furthermore, the supplier Elbit plans as it goes and it regularly happens that it does not respect its schedule,” the CDF further points out.
Armasuisse has a loan of 298 million francs to acquire the system. At the time of the audit, in May 2024, 288 million francs had been committed, “which leaves very little financial room for maneuver for the continuation of the project, while the challenges are considerable”, continues the CDF. . For the financial policeman of the Confederation, the next steps should be clarified “urgently”. A thorough analysis of all possible options must be conducted.
Quality defects in Israeli products
On the side of the Federal Armaments Office, we acknowledge having underestimated certain difficulties linked to this complex project. And we also recognize the need to act. According to the office, the delays are mainly due to the suppliers, the Swiss RUAG and the Israeli Elbit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the current conflict in the Middle East. Regarding the contract with Elbit, armasuisse “deplores delays, as well as the absence of certain functionalities and quality defects in the systems delivered”, we read in its response to the audit.
The recommendations of the CDF will be taken into account consistently. But armasuisse, which does not share the CDF’s analyzes on several important points of the audit, intends to move forward as planned. It thus excludes any resizing or any interruption of the project. Compensation provided by Elbit was provided for in an amendment to the contract. Ultimately, the financial ceiling of the project will not be exceeded, assured armasuisse.
-Without utility, but with maintenance costs
Furthermore, armasuisse is linked to RUAG by another contract which concerns an innovative detection and avoidance system (“Detect and Avoid System”, DAA) with which the drones must still be equipped. This system must allow drones to fly without air escort day and night in all airspaces, which is not yet possible. This would be a world first in the field. But all the stages of realization and certification should not be completed before 2029 at the earliest.
The SFAO also deplored the fact that armasuisse handed over two drones to the Swiss Air Force as early as January 2023. “This process is in contradiction with the usual processes of armament modalities and has generated additional costs.” After test pilots identified significant quality problems approximately ten months after the systems were handed over, the Air Force decided to no longer fly the two drones. Even if drones are of no use, the Air Force must ensure their maintenance.
For armasuisse and the army, it was above all a matter of gaining experience with the new system. The serious quality defects would otherwise not have been detected during this operational phase, argues the Federal Armaments Office.
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