The cost of the 36 F-35 planes purchased by Switzerland in the United States will largely exceed the six billion initially planned. For the president of the Federation of Swiss military societies Stefan Holenstein, the fighting aircraft remains without alternative and crucial for security. To give it up in response to American customs duties would be “inappropriate” and “ineffective”.
The total cost of acquiring the 36 F-35 combat planes will significantly exceed the six billion francs approved by the voters five years ago. The Federal Council confirmed on Wednesday: Switzerland failed to obtain a fixed price from the United States for the 36 combat aircraft. The additional cost is estimated between 650 million and 1.3 billion francs.
The games are made. Once again, these are bad news from the Federal Council
Faced with this increase, several tracks are studied, such as reducing the order or solicitation of additional credit with the Parliament. A working group was set up by the federal advisor in charge of the defense Martin Pfister. The DDPS will present its proposals by the end of November. But for the federal advisor, we must accept this situation, as he declared on Wednesday at a press conference.
>> Read also: Washington refuses to guarantee a fixed price for the purchase of F-35
New government failure
For Stefan Holenstein, president of the Federation of Swiss military societies, this is a new failure of the government. “The games are made. Once again, these are bad news from the Federal Council,” he said Thursday at the microphone of the morning. According to him, it would be reductive to in line with the position of strength of the United States. “On the Swiss side, there are responsibilities in this confusion around the fixed price.” Before adding: “You have to correct the situation, but there are no alternatives to the F-35.”
The soldier remains convinced that the American apparatus is “by far the best combat aircraft for Switzerland”, offering “the best value for money”. Not to mention that being widely used by the majority of European countries, “it offers many advantages in terms of interoperability with our neighbors”. To give it back in response to the customs duties of 39% recently announced by the United States would, according to him, be “inappropriate” and “completely ineffective”.
He also dismisses the arguments of the left, which demands the abandonment of the purchase of American F-35s by evoking, beyond the additional acquisition, those linked to their operation. “You would never find an adequate replacement for the international arms market.”
>> The interview with Pierre-Alain Fridez, Jura Socialist National Councilor, in the morning:
Stefan Holenstein, however, recognizes a democratic problem: the Swiss people had approved a six billion credit five years ago, and an overtaking will now have to be validated by Parliament. He believes, however, that talking about “democratic scandal”, as said on RTS on Wednesday the national Green Councilor Clarence Chollet, is exaggerated. “It is above all an ill -conducted negotiation.”
Viola Amherd pointed out
According to him, Switzerland has shown a lack of preparation against the United States, despite expertise in renowned lawyer. As such, Stefan Holenstein accuses without appointing the old head of the DDPS Viola Amherd and his team of having worked badly. “This is a negative point, but we must continue: we have no option to change models and it is also of our credibility vis-à-vis other European countries.”
Before continuing: “Reducing the order from 36 to, say, 30 aircraft could be an option, but it would be dangerous for our air security and, more broadly, for the security of the country.”
Interview by Aleksandra Planinic
Text for the web: Fabien Grenon