Executive Summary
The Swiss Army has issued an immediate driving ban for its entire M113 fleet (238 vehicles). The reason is technical defects in the lateral drive that can cause steering and braking failures. Error analysis points to faulty cylindrical roller bearings. This is already the second driving ban within two years for these vehicles, which are over 50 years old.
Persons
- Divisional General Rolf Siegenthaler (Head of the Army Logistics Base)
Topics
- Arms and Defense
- Vehicle Technology and Maintenance
- Military Operational Capability
- Procurement and Logistics
Clarus Lead
The Swiss Army has imposed a provisional driving ban on all 238 M113 armored personnel carriers due to critical safety defects. During maintenance, metal particles in the oil and increased stiffness in the lateral drive were discovered – defects that can lead to steering and braking failure. Error analysis points to faulty cylindrical roller bearings that were installed during the last overhaul. The driving ban remains in place until the defects are completely remedied and once again reveals the challenges in maintaining aging military vehicles.
Detailed Summary
During routine maintenance work on the M113 tanks, critical technical defects in the lateral drive were identified. The identified defects – particularly metal particles in the oil and increased stiffness – point to a cylindrical roller bearing that does not meet specifications. This faulty component was apparently installed during the last overhaul. Divisional General Rolf Siegenthaler, Head of the Logistics Base, subsequently ordered the immediate driving ban.
This is the second driving ban in a short period of time. Already in December 2023, the entire fleet had to be grounded, then due to a defect in the drive shaft. The restoration took until the end of 2025 and incurred costs of approximately 2.6 million francs – mainly due to difficult spare parts procurement. The M113 vehicles are partially over 50 years old and serve the army as personnel carriers for armored engineers and security companies as well as for fire control tasks in artillery. Their replacement is provided for in various armament programs.
Key Points
- Safety-Critical: Defects in the lateral drive can lead to steering and braking failures; immediate driving ban for all 238 vehicles
- Repeated Problem: Second driving ban in two years; a similar repair in 2023 cost 2.6 million francs
- Material Defect: Faulty cylindrical roller bearings were installed during the last overhaul
- Aging Fleet: Partially over 50 years old vehicles; replacement planned but timeline uncertain
Critical Questions
Quality Control: How could a cylindrical roller bearing that does not meet specifications be installed in 238 vehicles during the overhaul? Which control mechanisms failed?
Supply Chain: Does the faulty material come from a single supplier or batch problem? Have similar defects been identified in other procurements?
Operational Capability: How long is the driving ban expected to last? What operational consequences does the shutdown have for the operational readiness of the Mechanized Brigades and Artillery?
Spare Parts Procurement: The last repair lasted until the end of 2025 due to difficult spare parts procurement. Are the required spare parts for the current repair already available, or is a similar delay expected?
Costs and Planning: What are the estimated costs for this second repair? Do these repeated failures affect the replacement planning of the M113 fleet?
Systemic Weakness: Do the two driving bans in two years indicate a fundamental problem with maintenance or material quality that could also affect other vehicle types?
Source Directory
Primary Source: Press Release State Secretariat for Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (SDPC) – news.admin.ch – February 10, 2026
Verification Status: ✓ February 10, 2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: February 10, 2026