Swiss army
Confederation spends 600 million for open tanks
The Cobra mortar, a new controversial acquisition of the Swiss army, presents a major flaw: its open hatch exposes soldiers to drones.
To use the new mortar 16, the soldiers must open the roof of the vehicle, which exposes them to drone attacks.
DDPS video
- The Swiss army has invested 600 million for 48 Cobra mortars criticized for their vulnerability.
- Soldiers are exposed to drone attacks when using the system.
- Federal finance control denounces irregularities in the acquisition procedure.
- The Finnish alternative Nemo, with its closed turret, had been dismissed from the project.
The weapon bears the name of Cobra. It is presented as an “ultramodern mortar system” and seduced by its “maximum firepower”. This is what the designer indicates on the Internet, the Ruag armament company which belongs to the Confederation.
Bern ordered a total of 48 “mortars, 16”, the official name of the project, for 600 million francs. The cobras will be mounted on piranha wheel pranad trees. The first armored mortars arrived a few weeks ago, with seven years behind the initial calendar.
By observing the weapon more closely, one wonders about its performance. To fire, you have to open a skylight. Canons, soldiers and ammunition are not only exposed to wind and bad weather. They also become an easy target for drones equipped with explosives. Cheap drones have become an essential means of combat, especially in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Soldiers who maneuver the armored mortar are exposed to air attacks.
DDPS/Philipp Schmidli
“Very dangerous for soldiers”
The acquisition questions. “We must seriously reconsider the introduction of mortar 16,” said the adviser to the States of the Peter Hegglin Center (ZG). The war in Ukraine and the massive use of drones have revealed the vulnerability of open -air artillery parts, which now represent a major risk. “I have serious reservations about the adaptation of this system to all the troops and its ability to sufficiently protect our soldiers.”
The project arouses controversies not only in the political world, but also in circles close to the army. Rudolf P. Schaub, former lieutenant-colonel and retired lawyer, had already denounced several years ago the faults of the anti -tank. He described his bad conception. “What is happening in Ukraine confirms my doubts,” he said. Mortar 16 is not appropriate. In an emergency, there are only lots of scrap after a drone attack.
Federal Finance Control Critical Finance
About ten years ago, the Nemo system of the Finnish Armament Group Patria was also in the selection, in the same way as the Swiss anti -tank mortar. Nemo has the advantage of having a closed combat turret. According to the manufacturer, the tank can change positions in just ten seconds after shooting. “The Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer (UDC/ZH) stopped the acquisition of Nemo while the contracts were ready to be signed,” explains the expert. “It was a serious mistake.”
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Five years ago, federal finance control had already made severe criticism. According to the report, the acquisition of mortar 16 was “difficult to understand” and the procedure included gaps. There was no real competition and the choice of suppliers was “politically influenced”, according to several sources. In 2015, when choosing the type of mortar, only the Finnish system was ready for series production. The Swiss armored mortar was still in the early stages of its development.
According to an internal report of the army of 2020, the mortar 16 only satisfied half the criteria during a test, partially fulfilling them or not at all. The space open near the cannon has posed various problems, especially at night and in bad weather.
A possible shot by all time according to the army
The Federal Armament Office is trying to restore the coat of arms: “Contrary to what has been reported, mortar 16 has always been able to carry out its activity of shooting in all time, day and night.” The identified faults have been corrected for series production. The equipment remains suitable for military use.
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The army recognizes, however, that mortar 16 is not equipped with an integrated antidron defense. When the cannon hatch is open, the armored mortar becomes more vulnerable to attacks. But this is only worth during the shooting phase, which is short -lived. When the hatch is closed, the system has “adequate ballistic protection”. During the acquisition, the choice of an open shooting station was “knowingly, with its advantages and disadvantages”.
The Confederation does not see any reason to interrupt the launch of the new equipment. About 460 million francs have already been spent on the anti -tank mortar.
The army recognizes that mortar 16 is “more vulnerable to drone attacks” when the cannon hatch is open.
DDPS/Philipp Schmidli
We try to laugh in the army. If drones buzz around, soldiers can quickly evacuate the vehicle through the hatch and take shelter.
Translated from German by Emmanuelle Stevan
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