stratos | Simulations and Digital Models as Catalysts for Procurement and Training in the Swiss Armed Forces
Switzerland's lack of combat experience creates a structural distance from the rapid tactical and technological adaptation visible in contemporary conflicts, most notably the unprecedented pace of drone warfare innovation in Ukraine. This article argues that simulations grounded in high-fidelity Digital Models offer a systematic means to bridge this gap. The discussion focuses on two high-impact application areas: First, defence procurement, where simulations enable structured transferability analysis of foreign conflict observations against Swiss-specific conditions before resources are committed. Second, military training, where simulation decouples skill development from the scaling constraints of instructors and equipment. FPV drone operations serve as an illustrative case for both domains, demonstrating how Digital Models built on geodata can support realistic, hardware-agnostic training that outlasts individual system generations. The article concludes by examining the methodological and organisational limitations of simulation and outlining the conditions under which it can serve as an effective instrument for strengthening Switzerland's defence capabilities.
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stratos ist die militärwissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Armee. Sie richtet sich an ein Fachpublikum und an eine interessierte Öffentlichkeit und will relevante Themen zu Armee, Verteidigung, Sicherheit und Sicherheitspolitik zur Diskussion bringen. Sie erscheint zweimal jährlich in gedruckter Form und be steht daneben als digitale Plattform, auf welcher laufend neue Beiträge publiziert werden