Summary

The Swiss Army's Command for Ordnance and Mine Clearance (KAMIR) found and rendered harmless a total of 227 unexploded ordnance items in 2025. The operations were primarily based on 855 reports from the public, a slight decline compared to 1037 reports in the previous year. Additionally, 1556 old ammunition parts and 1263 found ammunition were properly disposed of. Most reports came from the cantons of Bern, Graubünden, and Valais, where military training areas and popular leisure and hiking regions overlap geographically.

Persons

  • Swiss Army (Institutional actor; KAMIR operator)

Topics

  • Ammunition disposal and unexploded ordnance
  • Public safety
  • Public reports
  • Military training areas

Clarus Lead

The persistent danger of unexploded ordnance in popular outdoor regions underscores a structural safety risk: where recreational activities and historical military areas overlap geographically, vigilance remains essential. The Swiss Army signals its long-term commitment through reward payments of up to 100 francs per confirmed find and systematic clearance operations – an important signal for hikers and tourists active in these regions.

Detailed Summary

The unexploded ordnance reporting center recorded a stable workflow in 2025: with 855 incoming reports, the confirmation rate for actual unexploded ordnance reached approximately 27 percent (227 finds). In parallel, 1556 old ammunition parts and 1263 found ammunition were disposed of – a total quantity demonstrating that ammunition residue is widespread in Swiss nature.

The geographic concentration in Bern, Graubünden, and Valais is explained by two factors: these cantons host both historical and current military training areas as well as heavily-frequented hiking regions. The risk of encountering dangerous objects is elevated there. The Army strategically rewards reports – in 2025, 7320 francs in rewards were paid out, averaging approximately 32 francs per find. This incentive system complements systematic clearance operations in former target and training areas, which serve to reduce long-term risks.

Key Points

  • 227 unexploded ordnance items were defused by KAMIR in 2025; public reports were the primary source
  • Reward scheme (up to 100 francs) and systematic clearance operations form a dual safety model
  • Regional concentration in Bern, Graubünden, Valais correlates with training areas and recreational use

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: How is the confirmation rate of unexploded ordnance (227 of 855 reports ≈ 27%) validated? What documented error rate exists for false reports?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: To what extent does the reward scheme (up to 100 francs) influence the reporting rate and reporting behavior – could financial incentive distortion arise?

  3. Causality: Is the decline from 1037 to 855 reports (−18%) attributable to reduced awareness, fewer outdoor activities, or actually fewer finds?

  4. Feasibility: How is compliance with behavioral rules (do not touch/remove) monitored and communicated in hiking areas – is there signage in high-risk zones?

  5. Side Effects: Could the public reward scheme lead to laypeople increasingly searching for ammunition in dangerous zones?

  6. Long-Term Reduction: What proportion of the 227 finds stem from systematic clearance operations vs. reports – how efficient is the proactive model?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Swiss Army – Press Release Unexploded Ordnance Disposal 2025 (17.06.2026) https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/E0oKISSoFiFMOKGC_rvXx

Verification Status: ✓ 17.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 17.06.2026