Swiss may afford only 30 F-35s after U.S. price hike

Switzerland expects to afford only about 30 of the 36 F-35A fighters it ordered after Washington sought up to $1.6 billion more despite what Bern calls a fixed-price deal, and Swiss officials now say they may buy some U.S. weapons directly from manufacturers.

Switzerland's purchase of U.S.-made F-35A fighter jets is running into deeper trouble, with Defense Minister Martin Pfister saying the available funding will probably buy only about 30 of the 36 aircraft originally planned.

Dispute over a 'fixed price'

Bern says it secured a fixed price of 6.035 billion Swiss francs for 36 F-35As in 2022. Washington denies that a fixed-price deal exists, citing rising raw material and energy costs, and has sought up to 1.3 billion francs, or about $1.6 billion, on top of the ceiling approved by Swiss voters in a narrow 2020 referendum.

The Swiss flag

The Swiss government concluded last year that it could not enforce the contractually agreed price and ordered the defense department to buy as many jets as possible within the 6-billion-franc framework.

Bern acknowledges failings

In a response adopted Oct. 21, the Federal Council accepted six of seven parliamentary oversight recommendations in full and one in part, acknowledging that the legal department of the federal procurement agency Armasuisse had played too limited a role in the fighter purchase. Parliament has also approved a supplementary credit of 394 million francs.

Switzerland eyes direct deals with U.S. firms

Armasuisse director Urs Loher said Thursday that Switzerland may buy some U.S. weapons directly from American companies rather than through the U.S. government, arguing that the current channel leaves buyers few ways to settle price disputes or seek compensation for late deliveries. Such deals would still require U.S. approval.

Switzerland has already paid more than 1 billion francs in advance, while deliveries of its Patriot air defense systems could slip by five to seven years. Assembly of the first Swiss F-35A began in May, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2030.

Swiss may afford only 30 F-35s after U.S. price hike