Politics · Switzerland · 2 hrs ago
Swiss audit office flags risks in army property plans and repair backlog
Switzerland’s Federal Audit Office has criticised planning for army properties, including barracks, airfields and training grounds.
The army’s portfolio contains about 21,600 properties, and its replacement value was 28.4 billion francs at the end of 2025.
The army changed course as security needs shifted and now plans to grow the portfolio to 30 billion francs, rather than reduce it to 20 billion.
The audit office says the army has not yet settled what buildings it will need, creating a risk of wasteful investment.
It also found a repair backlog of 2–3 billion francs, which could rise by 2030.
The backlog cannot be cleared quickly, and officials say they will need to set priorities.
The defence department and arms procurement office are working on better planning and project controls, while the audit office says stronger oversight and shared building standards could help.
Switzerland’s Federal Audit Office says gaps in planning and oversight of army properties create risks of poor investment decisions.
The army plans to expand its property portfolio to as much as 30 billion Swiss francs, but its future infrastructure needs have not been fully established.
The audit office estimates a backlog of 2 billion to 3 billion francs in repairs, which could grow by another billion francs by 2030.
It also identifies missing information, unclear responsibilities and weaknesses in portfolio reporting and project control.
The defence department says it is working on improvements, including better coordination of property and weapons projects.
- Who
- Switzerland’s Federal Audit Office (EFK) reviewed the army’s property portfolio; Armasuisse Immobilien manages the properties for the defence department.
- What
- The EFK warned of planning and oversight weaknesses, potential poor investment decisions and a large repair backlog.
- When
- The report was published on 2 November 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- The army plans to expand its property portfolio as it adjusts to a changed security situation, but key planning foundations and decisions are missing.
Federal Audit Office (EFK)
Defence department (VBS) and Armasuisse Immobilien
Portfolio planning
Federal Audit Office (EFK)
The EFK says key information, strategic decisions and clear responsibilities are lacking, creating risks of poor investment decisions.
Defence department (VBS) and Armasuisse Immobilien
The VBS says improvements are under way, including work to align property and weapons projects.
Repairs and investment priorities
Federal Audit Office (EFK)
The EFK says the repair backlog is substantial and calls for stronger coordination and prioritisation.
Defence department (VBS) and Armasuisse Immobilien
Armasuisse Immobilien’s head says the backlog cannot be cleared quickly and priorities are necessary.
The Federal Council issued an assignment on common standards for buildings, but the EFK says binding standards have not been effectively established.
The army changed course after Russia’s attack on Ukraine and began planning to expand its property portfolio.
The army property portfolio had a replacement value of 28.4 billion Swiss francs, according to the EFK report.
The EFK’s report was published, highlighting planning weaknesses and a repair backlog.
- Planned portfolio
- Up to 30 billion Swiss francs
- Portfolio size
- Around 21,600 objects, with about half used by the army
- Repair backlog
- 2 billion to 3 billion Swiss francs
- Repair need
- 34 percent, compared with Armasuisse’s target of 25 percent
- Projected repair need
- Around 40 percent by 2030
- Reporting error
- An Excel error left around 250 million Swiss francs in accumulated maintenance unrecorded
3 sources
What people are saying
We should know the connections. For example, that a new weapons system needs a new vehicle hangar.
The property portfolio should be consistently aligned with defence capability.