DDPS sets up advisory group for the strategic development of Beyond Gravity
Bern, 13.08.2025 — Following Parliament's decision not to pursue the planned privatisation of Beyond Gravity, the DDPS intends to set out Beyond Gravity's new strategic direction in the near future. To this end, the DDPS has set up an advisory group comprising Prof. Thomas Zurbuchen from ETH Zurich, National Armaments Director Urs Loher, Jürg Rötheli, president of the Board of Directors of RUAG MRO, and representatives from the Federal Finance Administration (FFA) and the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER). The advisory group will be chaired by Marc Siegenthaler, Deputy Secretary General of the DDPS. The Federal Council was informed of this at its meeting on 13 August.
The Federal Council has transferred responsibility for managing RUAG International Holding AG to the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) with effect from 1 July. In line with the Confederation's broad security policy interests, it has instructed the DDPS to continue work on Beyond Gravity as a matter of priority, revising the strategic objectives and creating a legal basis for participation in the company.
Following Parliament's decision that the Confederation should retain control of Beyond Gravity, the DDPS plans to work out the options for Beyond Gravity's future strategy by the end of the year and define the key parameters of the strategy. To this end, the DDPS is setting up an advisory group consisting of experts from within and outside the Administration. The members of the advisory group include Prof. Thomas Zurbuchen from ETH Zurich, National Armaments Director Urs Loher, Jürg Rötheli, president of the Board of Directors of RUAG MRO and other experts from the FFA and EAER. The advisory group will be chaired by Marc Siegenthaler, Deputy Secretary General of the DDPS.
Strategic objectives for RUAG International to be adapted
Based on the work of the advisory group, the DDPS is expected to submit the revised strategic objectives for RUAG International Holding AG for the period 2024–2027 to the Federal Council in the first half of next year. This will form the basis for a legal framework for participation in the company. The consultation process is expected to begin in the first half of 2027.