In the end, 9,743 votes were decisive: the Swiss voted in favor of new fighter jets by a wafer-thin majority in Sunday’s referendum.
Defense Minister Viola Amherd was able to breathe a sigh of relief in the end: after initial projections had already suggested a “no” to the planned purchase of fighter jets for the Swiss Armed Forces, the supporters ultimately retained the upper hand by a narrow margin of 50.2%. Experts had expected a clearer “yes” beforehand, but the effects of the corona pandemic (“the money must now be invested in other areas”), the good mobilization work of the fighter jet opponents around the SP, Greens and the Group for a Switzerland without an Army and city dwellers who were critical of the billion-euro investment ensured a narrow result after all. Despite the small difference in votes, the bill was officially accepted and the Federal Council is now officially tasked with procuring new fighter jets and air defense systems (not subject to the referendum) by 2030. A maximum of six billion Swiss francs (around 5.5 billion euros) may be spent on the jets, and at least 60 percent of the contract volume must be offset by countertrade in Switzerland. Unlike the failed Gripen procurement in 2014, this time there was no vote on the aircraft type. The Federal Council is expected to decide which aircraft Switzerland will purchase at the beginning of 2021. The first jets are due to enter service around 2025, with procurement to be completed in 2030. “The ‘yes’ vote represents a long-term investment in the security of the Swiss population and the country’s infrastructure,” said Defense Minister Amherd after the decision was made. The Swiss Armed Forces will thus be able to continue to fulfill their tasks in the future.
The purchase of 36 or 40 new fighter aircraft is planned to replace the current fleet of 26 Northrop F-5E/F Tigers and 30 F/A-18C/D Hornets. In addition to the Eurofighter Typhoon T3/4 from Airbus, the Rafale F4 from Dassaultthe F/A-18E/F Super Hornet III from Boeing and the F-35A Lightning-II from Lockheed-Martin.
