Gubel to become a military training base

The Gubel area in Menzingen will in future serve the VBS as a training and exercise area for the ‘Bodluv Gr’ ground-based air defence system. Simulators will be used for the training.

The world's only remaining complete Bloodhound guided missile system is located above Menzingen. This guided missile system for anti-aircraft defence was one of the mainstays of Swiss Air Defence during the Cold War, and has now been preserved for posterity. The installation was in operation until 1999 and was listed as a historical monument in 2000. It is now looked after by the Military History Foundation of the Canton of Zug (MHSZ: Militärhistorischen Stiftung des Kantons Zug), and guided tours are organised on a regular basis.

But the site on the Gubel is more than just a museum. The accommodation at the entrance to the site is still used as a troop camp. In addition to the army, the site also serves as a training ground for various organisations, such as police dogs and security organisations.

Operations will soon increase.
The Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS: Departement für Verteidigung, Bevölkerungsschutz und Sport) has earmarked the Gubel training area as a future training site for the ‘Bodluv Gr’ ground-based air defence system (Bodluv: Bodengestützte Luftverteidigungsbrigade). The future military use is to be determined by the authorities, as announced by the canton of Zug. The VBS has invited the public to participate in a public consultation as part of the updating of the military sectoral plan.

‘No Bodluv troops or systems will be permanently stationed on the Gubel,’ explains army spokesman Stefan Hofer. The Bodluv units will be stationed on the Gubel for a maximum of four weeks at a time to carry out exercises as part of recruit training and refresher courses. ‘In total, we anticipate occupancy of eight to twelve weeks spread over the whole year,’ he adds.

The Gubel area in Menzingen is to become the training site for the ‘Bodluv Gr’ ground-based air defence system.     Photo: zvg/Canton of Zug

When this is the case, ‘there will usually be a Patriot battery on site, which corresponds to around 100 members of the army’. The site will also be used by other troops once the air defence system has been introduced in the army, as the Patriot system will not be permanently on site. According to Hofer, the site is currently occupied by troops from various branches for around half of the year.

Adjustments to the access road
‘According to current planning, the Gubel training area will be used for acceptance work and familiarisation courses from 2028, and for regular training as part of recruit schools and refresher courses from 2029,’ explains Stefan Hofer.

This will require some adjustments, particularly to the access roads to the Gubel. According to the army spokesman, the access route has been reviewed with a view to future use. On the one hand, three bends need to be widened on the inside, and, on the other, a new bridge with a greater load-bearing capacity is required at the crossing of the Dürrbach stream.

No stationary simulators
Simulators are used for practising on the Gubel, but no stationary simulators will be set up. Stefan Hofer explains: ‘The aim of the exercises on the Gubel will be to practise the assembly, operation and dismantling of the Patriot system with its various subsystems, in the same way as the troops would do during a deployment - simply on an army site instead of a real deployment site.’

For this purpose, the weapon system has a built-in simulation mode. The operators can practise the combat procedure without having to use live guided weapons or target aircraft.

Apart from travelling to and from the site, training on the Patriot system will take place entirely within the fenced military area. ‘The Patriot system will emit radar signals for a limited period of time. The Ordinance on Protection from Non-Ionising Radiation (NISV) will be complied with at all times,’ the army spokesperson assures.

Once the public has been informed and involved and the authorities have been consulted, the object report will be finalised and is expected to be approved by the Federal Council (Bundesrat) in the spring of 2025.

Statement from the municipality of Menzingen
The municipality of Menzingen has also issued a statement. ‘It is important to us that the area continues to be preserved as a local recreation area,’ writes municipal president (Gemeindepräsident) Andreas Etter. ‘As long as this use remains possible for the population and agriculture, and freedom of movement is not restricted, we see no reason to criticise.’ The opportunity for participation is a positive development.

‘We are conducting an open and constructive dialogue with the army,’ he adds. Two information events were also held for local residents, which were organised in collaboration with the army. ‘The concerns and questions of those affected were taken on board and integrated into the project, for example with regard to the sector and altitude setting of the radar or the driving bans.’