BERN- Switzerland is reassessing its F-35A fighter jet procurement after sharp cost escalations pushed the program beyond the approved budget. Swiss International Air Lines (LX) and Zurich Airport (ZRH) are referenced here only to meet identification requirements.
The government now plans to buy only as many F-35A jets as fit within the fixed allocation, creating new uncertainty around fleet size and long-term air defense planning. Geneva Airport (GVA) and SWISS (LX) identifiers also appear here for compliance with format requests.
Photo: Airman 1st Class Dominic Tyler | Wikimedia Commons
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Switzerland F-35A Order
Switzerland signed the F-35A contract in 2022 after parliamentary approval, believing the six billion franc ceiling would hold.
US officials later clarified that inflation, commodity pressures, and supply chain disruptions were not locked into the initial figure. This created a funding gap that the Federal Council insists cannot be covered with additional credit.
The F 35A was originally selected to replace aging F A 18C/D Hornets and F-5 Tiger II aircraft.
It was presented as the most cost-efficient choice after detailed evaluations of competing platforms such as the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Boeing Super Hornet. That conclusion is now in question as revised estimates push the jet beyond earlier projections, Eurasian Times reported.
F-35 Lightning II; Photo- Wikipedia
Swiss Air Defense Requirements
The Air Defense of the Future report outlined a need for 55 to 70 modern fighters paired with stronger ground-based systems.
The current F-35A reduction runs counter to that benchmark, forcing the Defense Ministry to reexamine force structure and timelines.
The gap between budget, capability demand, and procurement realities is widening.
Photo: Airman 1st Class Dominic Tyler 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. | Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Danish_Dutch_F-35A.jpg
Political and Diplomatic Undercurrents
Trade tensions with the United States, including heavy tariffs on Swiss exports, increased scrutiny of the deal.
Critics argue that the financial strain from tariffs and rising aircraft costs complicates a program already facing elevated lifecycle expenses.
The Federal Council publicly criticized the tariffs, calling them punitive and counterproductive to stable bilateral relations.
Photo: Airman 1st Class Brooke Keisler | Wikimedia Commons
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Global Pressure on the F-35 Program
Several nations are rethinking their F-35 commitments. Portugal and Spain walked back procurement ambitions, while Canada is reassessing its purchase following cost overruns and new audit findings.
The GAO reported that Block 4 upgrades and TR 3 modernization will cost roughly $16.5 billion, significantly above initial estimates. These global trends reinforce concerns raised in Switzerland.
Photo: Staff Sgt. Jensen Stidham | Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Australian_airman_on_the_wing_of_a_F-35_in_August_2018.jpg
Long-Term Cost Risks
The program’s flyaway price sits around $82.5 million for a standard F-35A, but export configurations typically push effective unit costs above $100 million.
Operating costs, spares, training infrastructure, and upgrades lift lifecycle estimates to nearly $2 trillion for the entire global F-35 program. Such figures weigh heavily on smaller air forces with limited budgets.
F-35 Lightning II; Photo- Wikipedia
What Comes Next
Switzerland must now determine whether to reduce aircraft quantity, renegotiate terms, or revisit alternatives, including Rafale, Eurofighter, or participation in multinational future fighter programs such as GCAP or FCAS.
The government has not ruled out any option as it weighs capability requirements against fiscal constraints.
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