All the 2,700 employees of Ammotech in Switzerland and ten other countries, including Germany and Sweden, the United States and Britain, would be taken over by the new Italian owner, Ruag International saidExternal link on Wednesday.
The main Swiss production site in the town of Thun would be maintained for at least five years, Ruag International added.
The sale to Beretta doesn’t come as a surprise according to experts.
In 2018, the Swiss government decided to split into two separate companies as part of a divestment strategy.
The Ruag defence entity produces for the several armies and police forces, while the international business arm is active in aerospace engineering.
Ammotech says it generates two thirds of its sales in the civil sector.
The sale has prompted an outcry of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party. It criticised the sale as inacceptable as it undermined Switzerland’s security.
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
Swiss minister: Italy will back Switzerland in EU talks
This content was published on
Bern can count on the backing of Italy as it re-enters talks with the European Union on future relations, Viola Amherd says.
Student protestors at University of Lausanne continue pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
Since Thursday, a hall on campus has been occupied by students calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and a ceasefire in Gaza.
This content was published on
Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Israel: president of Swiss universities rejects academic boycott
This content was published on
Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities, the umbrella group of Swiss universities, is not in favour of an academic boycott of Israeli universities.
Technology firm Ruag International to cut more jobs
This content was published on
The Swiss aerospace and armament company, Ruag, says it will shed up to 150 jobs by the end of next year due to the coronavirus crisis.
Swiss firm RUAG still ranks among top 100 arms sellers
This content was published on
RUAG retained its rank of 95th in 2018. In line with a government decision, the technology group is splitting next year so that units catering to the Swiss Armed Forces are distinct from those serving the international market.External link MRO Switzerland (RUAG MRO Holding AG) and RUAG International (RUAG Holding AG) will be created on January 1, 2020, under the umbrella of the new holding…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.