The Swiss government was recently notified by the United States about the postponement in the delivery of Patriot air defense systems, with no estimated date, due to the war in Ukraine. The information was communicated yesterday by the U.S. Department of Defense to Switzerland’s Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, stating that the delivery priorities for these systems will be reorganized, which will affect both Switzerland and other countries that placed orders.
In 2022, Switzerland formally requested the acquisition of five launch systems from the United States, along with 72 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air missiles and five AN/MPQ-65 radars, in an investment valued at USD 700 million. The goal of this purchase was to strengthen the long-range air defense capabilities of the Swiss Armed Forces in light of contemporary threats such as the war in Ukraine.
One year later, at the end of October 2024, the U.S. government authorized the potential sale of a sustainment package for the five PAC-3 Patriot defense systems, which includes supplies for the platforms as well as their entire missile inventory. This translated into the purchase of electronic test stations, modification and upgrade kits, technical documentation, and international engineering services, among other components. In turn, it was specified that the U.S. government would provide the necessary logistical support for the operation, as well as the management of defective equipment replacement if needed.
According to the original schedule, deliveries were to begin in 2026 and conclude in 2028. However, the priorities of the United States forced changes to the delivery dates, meaning that Switzerland will only receive batches produced in the later phases, as suggested by the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS) in its statement.
Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that in 2024, the U.S. had already warned Swiss authorities about the diversion of a batch of interceptors, in response to the need to sustain the pace of military assistance to Ukraine. At present, there is no definitive information about the exact impact on the delivery timeline, as the Pentagon continues to evaluate the side effects on its international commitments.
Regarding the Patriot PAC-3, it is one of the latest versions of the missile system. More precisely, it is the subvariant known as PAC-3 MSE (Missile Segment Enhancement upgrade). The improvements introduced by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to the missile allow for an increased range and altitude at which it can intercept targets. Its introduction by the U.S. Army is relatively recent, having reached Initial Operational Capability in August 2016.
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