Switzerland Selects F-35

[TonyO]

Switzerland plans to replace both its F/A-18 Hornets and F-5 Tigers with a fleet of 36 F-35s.

Bern, 30.06.2021 - The Federal Council is set to propose that Parliament approve the procurement of 36 F-35A fighter aircraft from US manufacturer Lockheed Martin and five Patriot fire units from US manufacturer Raytheon. An evaluation has revealed that these two systems offer the highest overall benefit at the lowest overall cost. The Federal Council is confident that these two systems are the most suitable for protecting the Swiss population from air threats in the future. The Federal Council took the decision at its meeting on 30 June.

The Air Force’s current equipment will reach the end of its service life in 2030. To ensure Switzerland’s continued protection against threats from the air, the Federal Council intends to replace its current fleet of fighter aircraft and procure a new system for longer-range ground-based air defence (GBAD). In the referendum on 27 September 2020, a planning decision was adopted which set a budget cap of CHF 6 billion for the procurement of new fighter aircraft. In addition, CHF 2 billion will go towards a longer-range GBAD system. (Both figures according to the National Consumer Price Index in Jan. 2018.)

The Federal Council based its decision on a comprehensive technical evaluation of four new fighter aircraft candidates (Eurofighter by Airbus, Germany; F/A-18 Super Hornet by Boeing, USA; F-35A by Lockheed Martin, USA; Rafale by Dassault, France) and two candidates for a longer-range GBAD system (SAMP/T by Eurosam, France; Patriot by Raytheon, USA).

https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/docum ... 84275.html

[Blackcat1]

Not another country with F35s, imagine how boring RIAT will be!

[steamy]

Is it Switzerland who had a clause in the contract that if the F-35 was selected, they would be partially built there also? Or am I mixing this up with someone else?

[plmc135]

Not another country with F35s, imagine how boring RIAT will be!

No different to when everybody sent F-16's

[Blackcat1]

Yeah but they look nice

[Yammer]

F-35's look fine - get used to them.

[Blackcat1]

Nah !

[TonyO]

Is it Switzerland who had a clause in the contract that if the F-35 was selected, they would be partially built there also? Or am I mixing this up with someone else?

Less a clause, more of a proposal from Lockheed Martin who suggested Switzerland could assemble four aircraft in-country.

[cj9ru]

4 out of 36

Big deal. I suppose politics at play...

Chris

[willow70]

Hmmm I wonder if the manufacturer used the same method as the sale of F104s to Germany . The GNY had the option of Buccs or F104s it should have been a no brainer to pick the Bucc.

[Alf]

4 out of 36

Big deal. I suppose politics at play...

Chris

I thought the main reason to build 4 in Switzerland was for the knowledge and experience that would be gained of the F-35A by the Swiss.

[Sparts99]

Hmmm I wonder if the manufacturer used the same method as the sale of F104s to Germany . The GNY had the option of Buccs or F104s it should have been a no brainer to pick the Bucc.

Can you expand on that? I never knew Germany was a potential Buccaneer purchaser.

[Alf]

Hmmm I wonder if the manufacturer used the same method as the sale of F104s to Germany . The GNY had the option of Buccs or F104s it should have been a no brainer to pick the Bucc.

Can you expand on that? I never knew Germany was a potential Buccaneer purchaser.

Quick Google of Blackburn Buccaneer produced the following (Wiki)

"Early in the Buccaneer programme, the US Navy had expressed mild interest in the aircraft, but quickly moved on to the development of its comparable Grumman A-6 Intruder. The West German Navy showed a greater interest, and considered replacing its Hawker Sea Hawks with the type, although it eventually decided on the Lockheed F-104G for its maritime strike requirement, following the bribing of West German government officials in the Lockheed bribery scandals. "

[Sparts99]

Ok thanks.

[65thAgressor]

I'm not sure why the swiss would go for the f35. Do they need a stealthy fighter? I don't think so. For cost and interoperability the Rafale or gripen would have been a much better choice.In my opinion.

[Alf]

I'm not sure why the swiss would go for the f35. Do they need a stealthy fighter? I don't think so. For cost and interoperability the Rafale or gripen would have been a much better choice.In my opinion.

For interoperability they would be along side USAF/RAF/Norway/Denmark/Italy/Netherlands/Belgium/Poland... not a bad start

[Nighthawke]

Maybe they know what they want and why better than any of us.

[sjoerd]

I'm not sure why the swiss would go for the f35.

Because in a red & white 6-ship formation, they look way cooler than those boring grey solo displays during airshows!

[TonyO]

I'm not sure why the swiss would go for the f35. Do they need a stealthy fighter? I don't think so. For cost and interoperability the Rafale or gripen would have been a much better choice.In my opinion.

It [the F-35] was the cheapest option according to the Swiss evaluation, and the Gripen was removed from the competition in 2019.

[Tally-ho]

For interoperability they would be along side USAF/RAF/Norway/Denmark/Italy/Netherlands/Belgium/Poland... not a bad start

Correct, that fact is important when it comes to high cost defence needs, within Nato and non-Nato alliances. Furthermore, the strength and magnitude of the F-35 onboard computing and processing capabilities, the sophistication of its technical wizardry, is unmatched.