With the Mechanized Brigade 11, the Swiss army is training the interaction of the various troop elements with regard to the further development of the ground forces, the Federal Ministry of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) announced on Friday.
The PILUM 22 exercise provides the associations with training in standard operating procedures and operations against armed groups. It involves four mechanized battalions, plus a logistics battalion and a mountain infantry company.
A division specialized in electronic warfare and a detachment from the Special Forces Command will also be involved in the execution of the exercise and the imaging of the enemy.
Planning for PILUM 22 took two years. According to the DDPS, it is about the ability to defend the country and people on the ground in an armed conflict. PILUM 22 was designed based on the “Future of Ground Forces” report, approved by the Federal Council in May 2019.
A hotline (0800 0800 85) and an email address (pilum11@vtg.admin.ch) are available to the public for the duration of the exercise from 22 to 29 November. The regional media and the traffic information service Viasuisse provide information about large movements of armored vehicles. Land damage is “generally compensated” according to the DDPS.
(SDA)