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In office for a little over a year at the head of the Department of Defense (DDPS), Martin Pfister has above all had to work to put out the fires started by his predecessors: delays in the delivery of American Patriot missiles, controversy over the purchase of drones Israeli aircraft unusable in fog and extreme cold, or even the “fixed price” scandal for F-35 combat planes. Today, the centrist federal advisor is beginning to be able to impose his mark. This Friday, he presented his new “Defense Guidelines”, an important document which should lay the foundations of a more modern army, with leaner staffs and more focused on the current threats of hybrid warfare (sabotage, cyberattacks…).
Although this is not a reform strictly speaking, Martin Pfister nevertheless admitted to the media that this project includes “elements of a profound transformation” that must be initiated to respond to the deterioration of the security situation in Europe. Among the measures, the army will go from four to three military engagement spaces. Within the department, the number of functions occupied by general officers (there are currently around fifty) will be reduced by 25%.
