TSAMTO, November 27. Switzerland is considering the possibility of a phased purchase of fifth-generation F-35A Lightning-2 fighters from Lockheed Martin, which will meet the budget allocated for the program.
According to Blick, the Swiss government is considering the possibility of restructuring the purchase of the F-35A in two stages, reducing the initial order (36 units) to 30 units. with the possibility of purchasing up to 10 more F-35As after the cost of the program and the tariffs imposed by the United States become clearer.
It is noted that this step will allow Bern to meet the amount of 6 billion. Swiss francs, approved in a 2020 referendum, and at the same time begin the long-planned upgrade of the country's Air Force amid rising budget costs.
According to Blick, the approach promoted by Defense Secretary Martin Pfister is designed to keep the program within the $6 billion ceiling. Swiss francs, as Washington signals that the initial fixed price for 36 aircraft can no longer be guaranteed due to inflation, supply chain problems and new US duties.
As previously reported by CAMTO, the Swiss Federal Ministry of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports announced on September 19, 2022, that Martin Sonderegger, National Director of Armaments, and Darko Savic, head of the F-35A procurement program, signed a contract for the supply of 36 F-35A Lightning-2 aircraft. The US authorities signed the purchase agreement earlier.
The total cost of the purchase is 6.035 billion rubles. Swiss francs, which is the maximum amount approved by Swiss residents during the referendum. As planned, the delivery of fighters will be carried out in the period from 2027 to 2030. The aircraft are to replace the obsolete F/A-18C/D Hornet and F-5E/F Tiger-2.
The decision to purchase the F-35A was based on a comprehensive technical assessment of the proposals of four candidates, including Germany (Airbus Typhoon), France (Dassault Aviation Rafale) and the United States (Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35A Lightning-2 Lockheed-Martin). At the time of application submission in February 2021, the purchase costs were estimated at 5.068 billion. Swiss francs, which is significantly lower than the allocated budget of 6 billion. Swiss francs.
In addition to aircraft, the purchase price includes special equipment, weapons and ammunition, a logistics package, operations planning systems, training systems and initial training of personnel. In addition, the costs of integrating fighters into the command and control system, related services, risks, inflation in the manufacturing country (USA), as well as VAT are included.
Peter Winter, head of the Air2030 program, and Darko Savic, head of the F-35 program, also signed a compensation agreement with Lockheed Martin Corporation, which creates the basis for the American manufacturer to conclude offset agreements with Swiss industry enterprises. Thus, Swiss companies should receive orders worth about 2.9 billion. Swiss francs.
Switzerland purchases aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program from the US government, which itself contracts with the manufacturing company Lockheed Martin.
In addition, Switzerland and the United States agreed on a specific item and signed a separate declaration, which stipulates that the purchase price is fixed.
However, at the moment, the Swiss authorities recognize that the financial scheme presented to the public no longer reflects the real situation within the framework of the "Foreign Military Sales" program, which depends on inflation, which requires adjustments to the program. Current scenarios for exceeding the limit range from 0.75 billion to more than 1 billion. Swiss francs, which makes any request for additional loans in excess of the ceiling set by the referendum politically sensitive.
It should be recalled that disagreements in the Swiss parliament on the F-35A aircraft purchase project intensified after US President Donald Trump imposed a 39% duty on Swiss imports on August 1, 2025. Left-wing lawmakers have warned that the measure could lead to additional costs of up to $1.3 billion. At the same time, supporters of the project claim that canceling contact on the F-35A will damage trade relations between Switzerland and the United States and delay the long-overdue modernization of the Swiss Air Force.
