Country catalog

Switzerland Weapons and Military Equipment

Browse 11 weapon systems built or assembled in Switzerland, including aircraft & uavs, air defense, and related systems, with images, specifications, source notes, and conflict records.

11 weapon systems

11Catalog records

6Equipment categories

8Leading builders shown

8Conflict links shown

Category Mix

Aircraft & UAVs1 Air Defense5 Armored Vehicles2 Artillery1 Munitions1 Naval Systems1

Builder Links

Oerlikon Contraves4 Hispano-Suiza3 BMARC2 MOWAG2 Rheinmetall2 Rheinmetall Air Defence2 General Dynamics1 Noricum1

Conflict Coverage

2014 Russia-Ukraine War41990 Gulf War22001 War in Afghanistan22003 Iraq War21980 Iran-Iraq War12009 Boko Haram Insurgency12012 Mali War12014 War Against the Islamic State1

Hispano-Suiza HS.404, 20 mm aircraft autocannon, Aircraft & UAVs

Hispano-Suiza HS.40420 mm aircraft autocannonBuilt by: BMARC / Hispano-SuizaThe Hispano-Suiza HS.404 was a 20x110 mm aircraft autocannon designed by Hispano-Suiza and adapted into British Hispano and U.S. M1/AN-M2 cannon lineages. Public sources support its manufacturer, ammunition, and aircraft-armament relationships, while direct named-conflict use is left unattached without exact weapon-conflict evidence.

20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.820, 20 mm autocannon, Air Defense

20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.82020 mm autocannonBuilt by: Hispano-Suiza / Oerlikon ContravesThe 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.820 is a Swiss 20x139mm autocannon developed by Hispano-Suiza and later sold as the Oerlikon KAD after the armaments line moved to Oerlikon-Contraves. Sources document the family through anti-aircraft mounts, 20x139mm ammunition, and the U.S. M139 designation carried by the M114A2 reconnaissance carrier, but this entry stays relationship-only until exact conflict-use sourcing for the cannon is stronger.

Skyguard air defense system, Ground-based short-range air defense system, Air Defense

2014 Russia-Ukraine WarSkyguard air defense systemGround-based short-range air defense systemBuilt by: Oerlikon Contraves / Rheinmetall Air DefenceSkyguard is a Swiss ground-based air defense system line built by Oerlikon Contraves, now Rheinmetall Air Defence, and the Skyguard/Aspide configuration links the fire-control system to Aspide-family missiles. Rheinmetall describes Skyguard 3 as an inner-tier, vital-asset protection system able to connect gun and missile effectors, while Ukraine-war reporting has identified a rare Skyguard/Aspide control station in Ukrainian service under Russian loitering-munition attack.

Skynex, Networked short-range air defense system, Air Defense

2014 Russia-Ukraine WarSkynexNetworked short-range air defense systemBuilt by: RheinmetallSkynex is Rheinmetall Air Defence's modular short-range air defense architecture built around the Oerlikon Skymaster battle management system, networked X-TAR3D-class sensors, and autonomous 35 mm Revolver Gun Mk3 effectors firing programmable AHEAD ammunition. German-funded Skynex systems in Ukrainian service have been reported in truck-mounted power-plant defense roles, while Italy received the first NATO-member Skynex battery in December 2025.

GDF-001 / GDF-002 anti-aircraft gun, Towed twin 35 mm anti-aircraft gun, Air Defense

2014 Yemen Civil WarGDF-001 / GDF-002 anti-aircraft gunTowed twin 35 mm anti-aircraft gunBuilt by: Oerlikon ContravesThe GDF-001 and GDF-002 are early Oerlikon GDF twin 35 mm towed anti-aircraft guns. Weaponsystems says the family entered service in 1963, and from the GDF-002 onward it added a Ferranti GSR sight and digital data-bus linkage for Skyguard fire control. In Yemen, open-source documentation places GDF-001/GDF-002 guns in the pre-war Yemeni Army inventory and available to Yemeni battlefield parties after the Houthi takeover, but does not support a precise engagement or shootdown claim.

Leopard 1 Skyranger 35, Tracked self-propelled short-range air-defense gun system, Air Defense

2014 Russia-Ukraine WarLeopard 1 Skyranger 35Tracked self-propelled short-range air-defense gun systemBuilt by: Rheinmetall / Rheinmetall Air DefenceLeopard 1 Skyranger 35 combines a surplus Leopard 1 tank chassis with Rheinmetall's unmanned Oerlikon Skyranger 35 turret, turning a Cold War tank hull into a mobile short-range air-defense system for drones, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft. The configuration was publicly demonstrated in Switzerland in September 2024 and later ordered for Ukraine, with Rheinmetall describing Rheinmetall Italia as the production and integration site for the Ukraine systems.

MOWAG Eagle, Protected light tactical vehicle family, Armored Vehicles

2001 War in Afghanistan, 2003 Iraq War +2 moreMOWAG EagleProtected light tactical vehicle familyBuilt by: MOWAGThe MOWAG Eagle is a Swiss protected light tactical vehicle family built around reconnaissance, patrol, command, ambulance, and utility roles rather than heavy direct fire. Current GDELS material presents 4x4 and 6x6 versions with modular mission kits, protected crew cabins, and DURO-derived mobility; official military and export-control sources document Eagle vehicles in Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali, and a small batch of older demilitarized Eagle I vehicles reaching Ukrainian service during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

MOWAG Piranha, Wheeled armored personnel carrier family, Armored Vehicles

2001 War in Afghanistan, 2003 Iraq War +2 moreMOWAG PiranhaWheeled armored personnel carrier familyBuilt by: MOWAG / General DynamicsThe MOWAG Piranha is a Swiss family of wheeled armored vehicles built around modular 6x6, 8x8, and 10x10 chassis for troop transport, reconnaissance, command, engineering, mortar, air-defense, and other mission fits. GDELS traces the family from the 1972 Piranha I through later Piranha II, III, and 5 generations; in the 2009 Boko Haram Insurgency, Swiss reporting identifies Nigerian Piranha I 6x6 vehicles captured from army stocks and associated with Boko Haram or ISWAP use.

GH N-45 155 mm howitzer, 155 mm 45-caliber towed gun-howitzer, Artillery

1980 Iran-Iraq War, 1990 Gulf WarGH N-45 155 mm howitzer155 mm 45-caliber towed gun-howitzerBuilt by: NoricumThe GH N-45 is an Austrian Noricum refinement of Gerald Bull's GC-45 long-range 155 mm artillery design, combining a 45-caliber barrel, ERFB ammunition compatibility, and optional auxiliary propulsion. Iraqi GH N-45 batteries made the system a notable long-range artillery threat in the Iran-Iraq War and the 1990-1991 Gulf War.

20x110mm Hispano projectiles, 20 mm cannon ammunition, Munitions

20x110mm Hispano projectiles20 mm cannon ammunitionBuilt by: Hispano-Suiza20x110mm Hispano projectiles are medium-caliber cannon rounds for the HS.404, HS 803, and HS 804 family rather than a stand-alone weapon system. Ordtech lists modern HEI-T, HE-T, HEI, and HE loadings for HS404/HS804 cannons, while Yugoimport and vehicle references tie the ammunition family to the BVP M-80's 20 mm cannon fit and 400-round projectile load.

20mm Oerlikon GAM-B01, 20 mm naval self-defense gun mount, Naval Systems

1990 Gulf War20mm Oerlikon GAM-B0120 mm naval self-defense gun mountBuilt by: BMARC / Oerlikon ContravesThe 20mm Oerlikon GAM-B01 is a manually aimed British shipboard self-defense mount built around the Swiss Oerlikon KAA 20x128 mm autocannon. BMARC developed the mount after the Falklands War renewed Royal Navy interest in simple close-range guns for warning shots, small-craft defense, and last-ditch air-defense tasks; Gulf War-era Royal Navy reporting documents a 20mm Gambo aboard HMS Battleaxe on Gulf duty, with other references covering Royal Navy platform fits and training use.