From Tuesday, 5,000 soldiers will take part in the largest military exercise in Switzerland for 33 years. Ground forces will train for eight days in the cantons of Bern, Solothurn, Aargau, Lucerne and Zurich.
The Federal Public Service Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) announced in advance that it was about being able to defend the country and the people on the ground in an armed conflict. With the Mechanized Brigade 11, the Swiss army trains the interaction of the various troop elements with a view to the further development of the ground forces.
Codename “Pilum 22”
The “Pilum 22” training facility offers the associations the opportunity to practice standard operating procedures and to train 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.
Reporting point for the population
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)