In line with what we reported on December 15, Switzerland has finally decided to reduce the number of new stealth F-35A fighters it will purchase from the United States to strengthen its Air Force, cutting the order from the 36 aircraft originally planned to 30, as announced recently. The main reason behind the decision appears to be a significant increase in program-related costs, which—according to the Swiss government last Friday—would have required an additional investment of around 1.1 billion Swiss francs, considerably exceeding the amount budgeted in the initial stages, which stood at roughly 6 billion francs.
Delving into some specifics, it is worth noting that Bern maintained a firm stance throughout discussions on the program, insisting on adhering to the funds originally budgeted for the project, since major arms procurements require approval not only from political authorities but also from the public—who had already expressed reservations about spending this kind of money on Lockheed Martin’s F-35. The only variation anticipated from the original budget was the need to request additional credit of up to 394 million francs (around USD 505 million), which has been accepted as a cost adjustment tied to U.S. inflation and rising raw-material prices.
Against that backdrop, the Swiss government opted to reduce the purchase by six aircraft, seeking a middle-ground solution between what has been approved in budgetary terms and the country’s defense requirements. It is worth recalling that the Swiss Air Force currently operates an aging fleet of F/A-18 C/D Hornets and F-5E/F Tiger IIs that require a more advanced replacement—especially the latter, which are expected to leave service in 2027—by which time the first U.S.-built stealth fighters were already expected to be in Swiss hands.
As such, the selection process undertaken by the European country ultimately ended with the F-35 being chosen over Europe-made candidates, including the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale, which had been promoted in previous years. With cost projections around USD 5.48 billion, the purchase was already drawing criticism at the time due to the high expenses associated with the platform’s future sustainment requirements, including upgrade packages and the work needed to ensure Swiss bases could host the advanced aircraft.
At the same time, from a military-readiness perspective, analysts argued that even given the high costs, Switzerland would need to acquire a larger number of fighters in order to establish a genuine deterrent capability in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment—despite its long-standing tradition of neutrality. Along these lines, reports reviewed by the Swiss government suggested that acquiring between 55 and 70 aircraft (when the model had not yet been selected) would be a more reasonable number to meet strategic requirements. It remains to be seen, in that context, whether the country might ultimately seek to reach that overall figure by acquiring a lower-cost model to complement the F-35.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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