Arms export scandals
A chronology of controversial Swiss war-materiel and arms exports.
2026
Google Zurich and Israel’s Nimbus cloud
2025
Incomplete arms inspection in Jordan 
Incomplete arms inspection in Turkey 
Georg Fischer valves for Israel’s phosphorus manufacturer Alpes Lasers technology for Elbit and Civan Antennas for Elbit’s electronic warfare Swiss electronics in Putin’s drones 
Military goods for the United Arab Emirates despite criticism over Sudan 
B&T arms exports through a US subsidiary 
2024
Swiss shields for Israeli prison units TRUMPF laser machines for Israel’s military Studer grinding machine for Ashot Ashkelon Starrag machines for Israeli arms suppliers Metallux circuits for Ricor RUAG military item for Elbit’s drone division Military topcoat paint for Elbit Systems CNC lathe for Israel’s Technion Drone components for Khamenei 
Swiss electronics in Kim Jong Un’s missiles against Ukraine 
Auterion software for combat drones Military technology for Gulf states 
Plath technology for Rwanda and Morocco 
Decodio radio software for India and Serbia 
Laboratory products for Putin’s Russia
2023
2022
Cannon ammunition for Qatar Football World Cup: air defence for Qatar Air defence spare parts during the war in Yemen Transfers of Gepard ammunition and Piranhas to Ukraine blocked 
Polus Tech surveillance for Indonesia’s police Therian Labs radio surveillance for Indonesia Decodio technology for EU border surveillance 
Swiss NLAW warheads in Ukraine 
Underwater technology for al-Sisi’s Egypt and other military customers 
2021
2020
Oerlikon guns on their way from Turkey to Libya? 
Ticino motor in a kamikaze drone in the Nagorno-Karabakh war 
Mortars for Oman via Erdoğan’s Turkey 
SIG weapons on Middle Eastern black markets 
Swiss M72 parts for US wars 
Encryption devices blocked after the Crypto affair Pepper pistols for China and suspicions concerning Hong Kong 
2019
B&T rubber-bullet launchers against the Yellow Vests 
Historic weapons for Xi Jinping’s military museum Anti-aircraft guns for Bangladesh 
Nigerian Piranhas captured by Boko Haram and ISWAP 
ATECS surveillance for Pakistan and Vietnam Swiss air defence at a Saudi oil facility Russian military aluminium through a Swiss trading contract Pilatus aircraft for warlord Khalifa Haftar 
2018
Machine tools for Putin’s arms industry Swiss weapons missing during an inspection in Lebanon 
Planned Cobra mortars for Qatar 
Wavecom surveillance: exports to China and refusals for Erdoğan F-5 spare parts for Bahrain despite the Yemen war 
Small arms for Khalifa bin Zayed’s royal guard Air defence spare parts despite the Yemen war RUAG ammunition factory in Brazil stopped RUAG dealings with Putin’s security service Weapons for Pakistan during the Kashmir escalation War materiel for the Emirates despite the Yemen war
2017
SIG rifles in Yemen from Abdullah’s Saudi arms deal Valves for Pakistan’s nuclear programme blocked Small arms for Serbia blocked Assault rifles for Mexico blocked 
Large-calibre ammunition for the UAE blocked Ammunition for Kosovo blocked 
Small arms for Indonesia blocked Anti-aircraft guns despite armed conflict Maxon exports to Israel and Erdoğan’s Turkey MPS precision technology for Israel RUAG simulator for the Saudi National Guard Swiss fire-control technology for Saudi rocket artillery Luminous elements for a secret pistol factory Radio surveillance for China blocked
2016
2015
Mowag armoured vehicles deployed in Rio’s favelas 
Ammunition delivery despite the war in Yemen Gaps in arms inspections in Mexico NeoSoft surveillance: refusals for Belarus and others 
B&T ammunition for Israel Omani ammunition left unchecked Mowag demonstration armoured vehicle for Qatar blocked Rifle-making machines for Putin 
RUAG-Elbit simulators for Poland’s special forces 
STMicroelectronics transistors in Islamic State explosive devices Pilatus PC-21s for Jordan despite the Yemen war
2014
2013
2012
Pilatus trainers and corruption allegations in India PC-21s despite uprisings in the Gulf states RUAG grenades with armed groups in Syria, Libya and Yemen Swiss voltage converter in Kim Jong Un’s rocket Tethys exports despite India’s Rheinmetall ban Sporting weapons for Kim Jong Un Fire-control technology for India
2011
Arms licences despite the Korean conflict RUAG ammunition to Libyan rebels via Emir Hamad Piranhas and LAVs for Saudi Arabia 
Anti-aircraft spare parts for Bahrain PC-7s for Botswana despite social spending priorities 
Repaired weapon systems for the UAE B&T launchers and ammunition with the Congolese police 
‘The world’s best hand grenades’ for the Gulf states
2010
2009
Rising arms exports to Saudi Arabia Swiss camera technology for the US army in Iraq Swiss weapons in India’s Naxalite conflict Submachine guns for Putin’s security apparatus Circumvention deal: weapons for Kazakhstan via New Zealand 
Mowag Eagles deployed in Afghanistan Failed Swiss nuclear supply route to Iran
2008
Planned Pilatus trainers for China Military goods for Gaddafi during the hostage crisis Pilatus aircraft under Hissène Habré and Idriss Déby 
Pistols and submachine guns for King Abdullah Swiss Arms rifles for Egypt’s Mubarak government AMSD rifles in the Georgia war 
Rifle scopes and diving equipment for Ali Khamenei’s Iran 
Weapon parts from Mugabe’s Zimbabwe via Montenegro 
