It has been clear since the end of June at the latest that the planned procurement of 36 F-35 fighter jets will probably cost Switzerland considerably more than originally expected. Current legal assessments now confirm this assumption. According to this, it is not possible for Switzerland to enforce a fixed price for the fighter aircraft. The Ministry of Defense (DDPS) is therefore examining possible options for action until the end of November.
According to a recent press release from the DDPS, high-level talks with representatives of the US government – including a telephone call between US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his Swiss counterpart Martin Pfister – in the summer revealed that a fixed price is not feasible. The USA therefore rejects any deviation from its previous stance. The price per production batch is therefore based on the price agreed between the US government and the manufacturer Lockheed Martin. manufacturer Lockheed Martin negotiated in each case.
„Wir wollen eine permanente Präsenz des Bundesheeres im All“
This means that the final total costs of procurement cannot be precisely quantified at present. They depend largely on factors such as further inflation in the USA, the development of global commodity prices and possible price increases due to US tariffs. At the end of June, the Ministry of Defense had already mentioned a range of possible additional costs between 650 million and 1.3 billion Swiss francs (690 million to 1.38 billion euros).
At its meeting on August 13, the Federal Council determined the next steps and instructed the Ministry of Defense to examine various options by the end of November – the procurement of the F-35A is to be retained in principle.
Specifically, the DDPS will evaluate whether the current requirements for air defense are still based on the principles of the original F-35A evaluation, in particular the 2017 “Air Defense of the Future” report. A working group headed by the future Air Force Commander, Division future Air Force Commander, Divisional Commander Christian Oppligeris to critically review the assumptions made at the time and reassess the target equipment for air defense – taking into account the current security and financial policy situation.
The DDPS intends to submit a proposal for the next steps to the Federal Council by the end of November 2025.
Here for more news about the Swiss Armed Forces and here to further reports about Lockheed-Martin.
