In Switzerland, the purchase of 36 F-35A planes risks giving rise to a political scandal

In June 2021, Switzerland said it would order thirty-six hunters-bombers F-35A to Lockheed Martin [via le gouvernement américain] For 6 billion Swiss francs. Similarly, And that at the expense of the Rafale of Dassault Aviation. Similarly, the Typhoon/EF-2000 of the Eurofighter consortium and the F/A-18 Super Hornet. For example, Having won a previous tender which was finally canceled. Meanwhile, the Swedish Saab had not considered it useful to submit the candidacy of his Gripen E/F again. Therefore,

In itself. Moreover. However, even if certain titles of the French-speaking press tapped on a Rafale victory, this announcement was not necessarily surprising, with regard to the number of contracts already won by the F-35A in Europe. Therefore. Nevertheless, On the other switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes new hand, certain arguments put switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes forward to justify this choice could seem curious. Consequently,

Then at the head of the Department of Defense. Moreover. Furthermore, Protection of Population and Sports [DDPS]Viola Amherd [Le Centre] advanced that the offer made by the United States government in the name of Lockheed Martin was almost 2 billion Swiss francs to that arrived in second position, both in terms of purchase costs and operating costs. Nevertheless, And to explain that. Meanwhile. Furthermore, due to its advanced capacities, the F-35A would not need to fly as much as its competitors [5 000 heures contre 6 480]the use of simulators to allow Swiss pilots to train and train. Nevertheless,

But, above all, Ms. Nevertheless, Amherd had insisted that the purchase of the thirty-six F-35A would be made at “fixed prices”. Furthermore, in accordance with a commitment that the American authorities switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes new would have made. However, at the time, the Block 4 version switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes of this device was still in development. Nevertheless, And we knew that it would require a more powerful engine than the current F135. Meanwhile, A engine that remained to be financed … Similarly, by the customers of Lockheed Martin. Nevertheless,

The assertion of Ms. Moreover, Amherd was quickly disputed by the Swiss press. In addition. Therefore, the Sonntagsblick and Sonntagszeitung newspapers having argued that the price of the F-35A could not be “fixed” because it was established on “estimates based on the best available data”. Meanwhile, What confirmed. later. federal finance control [CDF] which, in a report, made observe that the “notion of fixed price mentioned in the ‘letter of tend and acceptance’ [LOA] was not clearly defined ”.

For its part, the DDPS campaigned on its positions. Except that the truth switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes new ended up imposing itself. In a survey broadcast on June 20. SRF public television has revealed that. since switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes 2024, the United States has demanded “more” for the thirty-six F-35A ordered in order to compensate for the effects of inflation. And to assess this additional cost to at least 1.3 billion Swiss francs.

What the new DDPS chief, Martin Pfister, was forced to finally recognize, last week. “A settlement of disputes by legal means being formally excluded, the solution must be negotiated. The Federal Council has decided to continue diplomatic discussions. instructed the DDPS to submit a concrete proposal to resolve this problem to it. “said its services, before excluding any breach of contract because” it would prevent Switzerland from guaranteeing the security of its air space and its population from 2032 “.

Only. in Washington. the concept of “fixed price” [« fixed price »] means switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes new that Switzerland must pay the same amount as that paid by the Pentagon to Lockheed Martin for its F-35. What is double -edged: switzerland. purchase 36 f-35a planes this system can be favorable when the purchase price is downward oriented … but disadvantageous otherwise.

In a book published in 2022 [« Le choix du F-35 : erreur grossière ou scandale d’État ? »]the deputy [socialiste] Pierre-Alain Fridez had vainly warned what was likely to happen …

“We trade with the American government. which buys the F-35 from the manufacturers […] And resells them at the same price to foreign countries. The planes are produced in series, by ‘lots’. The negotiated price can change from one lot to another, depending on the production costs. This is the case with the increase in the price of raw materials and inflation. It was expected. because the latter’s curve continues to go up switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes new to the United States. “said the parliamentarian in an interview with the Watson information site.

But Mr. Fridez went even further by saying that “some senior armasuisse switzerland. purchase 36 f-35a planes officials [l’agence de l’armement suisse. ndlr] “, Which” absolutely wanted the F-35, set up the test criteria and the weighting of ‘points’ to win it “. And to insist: “I believe that they wanted this plane against. against all logical data. because they are fascinated by the United States, this side top Gun, this plane of the future, etc. ».

The 20 % reduction in the number of flight hours is precisely one of the criteria that tipped the balance since. according to Mr. Fridez, it would explain the difference of 2 billion Swiss francs between the F-35 and the supply arrived in second position.

In addition. on June 29. the Blick newspaper brought another switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes new piece to the file: the F-35 commanded by Switzerland will be delivered without the Air-Air Aim-15s missiles Amraam, their purchase to be made according to a separate procedure. “Only one Sidewinder air-to-air missile” switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes will be “delivered with each jet,” he wrote.

Until now, Swiss parliamentary commissions have closed their eyes. In any case, this is what Michel Huissoud, ex-chief of federal finance control, said at RTS.

“The two public security commissions, the National Management Commission and the finance delegation were made during the risk. But they did not want to deepen the problem. It was the game of hot potato. The management committee said that this question of the price was of the finance committee. the finance delegation, while in its report, the finance delegation said the opposite, “he testified.

Be that as it may, the extent of the costs of the F-35A switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes new is agitating the Swiss political community. And the criticisms against Ms. Amherd, who resigned from the Federal Council, are.

“Amherd was incompetent as a federal councilor. She left problems behind her not only with the F-35. but switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes also with the intelligence services and the army. She only sought to appear well, ”cracked the deputy [UDC] Alfred Heer. “After this debacle. we can no longer trust the Federal Council and the Administration,” he insisted, in the pages of Tages Anzeiger.

At the other end of the Swiss political spectrum. the deputy preka seil graf [socialiste]Chairman of the Commission for Security Policy on the National Council. said that a “parliamentary commission of inquiry would be necessary” to see if there has been “deception” and “if the parliament and the population were deliberately induced”.

In the meantime. the National Council management committee. responsible for controlling switzerland, purchase 36 f-35a planes new the government and the federal administration, intends to look at the purchase of the F-35A. An ad in this direction must be made on July 1.