Thales to modernise Swiss Federal Police Automated Biometric Identification System

Thales is honoured to have been awarded an CHF 18.9 million contract by the Swiss Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (FOBL), on behalf of the Swiss Federal Police (fedpol), for the complete modernization of Switzerland’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) with CABIS, Thales’ flagship biometric identification solution.

This 17-year agreement, which runs through early 2043, calls for the replacement of the existing AFIS system, with full deployment expected by the start of 2028. As part of this project, Thales will also deploy a facial‐image comparison capability, designed to operate using the same forensic-grade principles as the fingerprint system. Importantly, this facial comparison capacity will be limited to images stored within the AFIS database, excluding any real-time surveillance, in accordance with Swiss legal and privacy frameworks.

The contract also includes provisions for future system development, extended maintenance, third-level support, and training. All biometric data processed under this system will be hosted and managed within the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police, thus ensuring sovereign control and strict compliance with national data protection standards.

Thales recognizes the critical role of the AFIS in Switzerland’s law-enforcement infrastructure, especially given that the system currently handles more than 390,000 identification requests per year from federal, cantonal, and foreign authorities. This modernization effort marks a strategic investment in national security by combining established technology with innovative capabilities – strengthening investigative effectiveness while fully respecting the legal and ethical boundaries set by Swiss law. 

Thales looks forward to partnering with fedpol to deliver a modern, resilient, and future-ready identification infrastructure.