Swiss Army Combines Horses And High-Tech Drones

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Horses have always been used by the Swiss Army. Now the animals are being combined with the latest technology – drones. Select your language

Generated with artificial intelligence. Listening: Swiss Army combines horses and high-tech drones This content was published on May 15, 2026 - 11:00 2 minutes SRF

Deutsch de Schweizer Armee kombiniert Pferde und High-Tech-Drohnen Original Read more: Schweizer Armee kombiniert Pferde und High-Tech-Dr Français fr L'armée suisse combine chevaux et drones high-tech Read more: L'armée suisse combine chevaux et drones high Italiano it Pattuglie a cavallo con droni, la nuova unità speciale dell'Esercito svizzero Read more: Pattuglie a cavallo con droni, la nuova unità speciale dell'Esercito svi 日本語 ja 伝統と技術の融合 スイス軍、馬とドローン操り監視を強化 Read more: 伝統と技術の融合 スイス軍、馬とドローン操り

Today, drones – like horses in the past – are part of warfare. A small group of recruits is now learning to use both in a special training programme by the Swiss army. Their job: to monitor terrain as mounted patrols.

The interaction between animal and drone has to be practised. All new things are initially frightening for a horse, so it must first get used to the drone, says a young recruit who is simulating a reconnaissance mission with a colleague at the edge of a forest.

The Swiss army has long used horses. At the highpoint a century ago, it had tens of thousands of them. Today, the number is only 300, and they are mainly used for monitoring purposes, such as at large sites which host critical infrastructure. Zurich airport, where there are few paths around the runway, is one such example.

“The horse can move faster than a foot patrol,” says Commander Kim Schätti, who is responsible for the army's animals. Horses can react quickly and relatively silently in difficult and rough terrain.

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