Switzerland’s arms industry is hoping that the revision of the Federal War Material Act (WMA) will deliver more predictable export conditions. From the sector’s perspective, the planned adjustments would make it easier to ensure reliable supply to customers and support investment decisions, according to a recent survey by Deloitte of companies directly or indirectly affected. If the WMA revision is rejected, more than nine in ten companies fear a weakening of Switzerland as a security innovation hub. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds expect jobs to be moved abroad.
On 29 November 2026, the Swiss public will vote on the revision of the Federal War Material Act (WMA). The government and parliament-backed proposal aims to facilitate arms exports to clearly defined partner states and to allow additional exemptions for the re-export of war material. A survey conducted by audit and advisory firm Deloitte among 66 Swiss companies directly or indirectly affected by the WMA revision highlights the consequences they expect depending on the outcome of the vote. The companies surveyed represent around one-third of the total market.
The geopolitical and security environment, and with it the framework governing arms exports, has changed significantly in recent years.
“Given the sharp rise in demand for defence equipment, the need for international security cooperation and the threats facing value chains and supply chains, it is now essential for Switzerland’s key security-related technology and industrial base to be able to plan its exports reliably and take part in international programmes,” says Ralph Wyss, Head of the Defence Industry sector at Deloitte Switzerland.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of the arms manufacturers surveyed that fall under the War Material Act (WMA) say their exports are currently significantly, or even very significantly, hampered by existing export controls. Nearly half of the producers of specific military goods, such as military simulators, and of the manufacturers of dual-use goods, such as laboratory equipment or drones, also see the current rules as an obstacle. Against this backdrop, companies attach great importance to simpler export rules. According to the survey, 72% of war material producers and 63% of manufacturers of specific military goods consider straightforward export rules “very important”.
If the WMA revision is approved, 93% of the companies surveyed expect Switzerland’s arms industry to be strengthened across the board. Many of them supply components or technologies for international procurement and development programmes, and therefore depend on being able to deliver abroad reliably and predictably. In the event of a “yes”, eight in ten companies expect the Swiss arms industry to become more competitive internationally, and 77% foresee more opportunities to take part in international procurement and development programmes.
87% of the companies surveyed believe that better export opportunities would translate into stronger business performance. Export-oriented companies in particular (76%) and war material producers (64%) expect the revision to have a positive impact on turnover over the next three to five years. Two-thirds of companies also expect investment decisions to become easier. Some respondents, however, do not anticipate a rapid reversal of the trend, pointing to investments that have already been made abroad.
If the WMA revision is rejected, the companies surveyed see risks for Switzerland as a technology and industrial hub. 91% are convinced that Switzerland’s importance in key security-related technologies could decline over the long term. More than half also expect negative consequences for investment in research and development.
Respondents also expect exports and international orders to suffer. 76% fear that access to international supply chains would be hampered, and 74% expect order volumes to fall. Companies in the sector believe that keeping the current export restrictions in place would make cooperation with foreign customers more difficult. They fear that contracts will increasingly go to firms in countries with less restrictive export regimes. They also point to the consequences for the Swiss labour market: 64% expect jobs to be relocated abroad if the revision is rejected, and among war material manufacturers that figure rises to 84%.
“The survey results show how strongly export conditions influence location decisions and the competitiveness of the companies surveyed. If new technologies are increasingly developed abroad, this will undermine the long-term technological competitiveness of Switzerland’s arms industry. Predictable and reliable export conditions are therefore a decisive factor in the location and investment decisions of this security-relevant industry,” says Ralph Wyss.
Deloitte’s survey on the WMA revision was conducted from 16 July to 23 August 2026 with the support of Swissmem. It included both quantitative assessment questions and fields for qualitative comments. A total of 66 companies took part, representing around one-third of all manufacturing companies concerned. All of them generate revenue in Switzerland, employ staff there and are directly or indirectly affected by the WMA revision. Of the companies surveyed, 35% produce mainly for the Swiss domestic market, while 52% export most of their output. 38% manufacture war material covered by the WMA, 41% produce specific military goods that are not war material in the classic sense, and 67% produce dual-use goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
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