Through the publication of a press release, the Swiss government has indicated that it will reduce the number of new F-35A stealth fighters to be acquired from the United States, arguing that sustained cost increases would prevent it from moving forward with the purchase of the 36 aircraft originally planned. In particular, the operation has a budget of 6 billion Swiss francs (around 7.5 billion dollars), which was approved by voters in a referendum held in 2020, a ceiling that the current government plans to respect by readjusting the number of aircraft ultimately to be incorporated, without expanding it through additional credits.
Providing further details, Swiss authorities have noted the impact of a 1.3 billion Swiss franc increase to carry out the purchase, which was announced unilaterally by Washington and rendered the operation unviable under its original terms. In the words of the European country’s authorities: “Due to foreseeable cost overruns, maintaining the originally planned number of 36 F-35As is not financially viable.” While it was stated that efforts will be made to acquire the largest possible number of aircraft within the defined budgetary limits, there is still a lack of precision regarding how many F-35s would be covered by the agreement, especially considering the costs associated with the purchase of armament, technical support, and works to adapt the country’s infrastructure.
According to local reports, the Ministry of Defense must now work on a definitive proposal to be presented next month, evaluating the country’s main priorities for 2026 and 2027, from which potential complementary purchases in the future will be analyzed, all of which must follow the same complex approval process. In particular, it should be recalled that Bern maintains a framework that subjects major arms purchases to approval by both the government and the citizenry, which in the case of the F-35 occurred by a narrow margin and with approval of the amounts to be invested granted before the aircraft model was selected.
It is useful to recall at this point that the acquisition process referred to seeks to equip the Swiss Air Force with new fighters to replace its aging fleet of F/A-18 C/D Hornets and F-5E/F Tiger II aircraft, with the latter expected to leave service in 2027; timelines that nevertheless anticipated the arrival of the first F-35s during this year. It is also interesting to note that the F-35 competed against the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale, and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, with the stealth model prevailing due to its technical qualities and cost projections, which were around 5.48 billion dollars at the start of the operation.
On the other hand, the Swiss government also made known its concerns regarding the high costs that the F-35 entails in ensuring its operability throughout its service life, also considering the aforementioned need to carry out works at the bases where they will be stationed. In sum, there are debates surrounding the update known as Block 4, which would provide the aircraft with significant improvements in its capabilities, such as a new radar and additional electronic warfare capabilities, among other elements. As of today, aircraft configured to that standard are expected to be delivered shortly after Switzerland incorporates its fleet, which suggests even higher costs if the country intends to upgrade its platforms.
If we broaden the view to medium- and long-term plans, it should also be considered that as early as 2017, Bern suggested that its forces should be able to count on a fleet of between 55 and 70 modern combat aircraft to meet its strategic requirements. Given that this is a considerably higher number than what would be added with the purchase of the F-35s, analysts have already begun to speculate that Switzerland may not only opt to reduce the fleet to be acquired, but could even choose a lower-performance model to reinforce its force, in a manner similar to what currently occurs with the F/A-18 and the F-5.
Another option that was analyzed but ultimately ruled out by the Swiss government was abandoning its intentions set out in industrial offset agreements tied to the purchase, which would have allowed costs to be reduced. According to its main authorities, this is a necessary aspect not only to boost local industry, but also to increase knowledge of the design and develop domestic capabilities to carry out maintenance with greater autonomy. This latter point has also been a weakness of the acquisition for those who prefer opting for a European-designed fighter, as it is believed that there would be greater ease in achieving agreements of this kind, while also contributing to reducing dependence on equipment of U.S. origin at a time of fragile relations between actors on both sides of the Atlantic.
Finally, though no less relevant, it should be recalled that Switzerland is not only in the process of negotiating with the United States the purchase of F-35 fighters to reinforce its air defense, but also intends to add new Patriot systems as part of a broader program known as Air2030. In detail, Bern is awaiting the acquisition of five PAC-3 variant launch systems along with the same number of AN/MPQ-65 radars and 72 missiles, for which an amount close to 700 million dollars would need to be invested. This is a sale already approved by Washington, but which, due to the war in Ukraine, has been delayed, as has occurred with acquisitions by other countries.
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