Switzerland has several alternatives to the F-35 in case of cancellation

In the absence of a rapid alternative, the Federal Council wants to stick to the purchase of the F-35. A look at the past shows that there are other alternatives.

Henry Habegger / ch media

The purchase of American F-35 combat aircraft is likely to cause a debacle that would cost Switzerland several million dollars, the new Defense Minister Martin Pfister said on Wednesday. But a step back would no longer be possible, he insists:

Without F-35, Pfister warns that Switzerland could no longer guarantee the security of its airspace and its population from 2032, since the current F/A-18 combat aircraft would no longer be usable. LA Swiss really depends on the F-35 for the best and for the worst?

The experience says the opposite. When in 2012, doubts appeared on the Swedish Gripen that the Federal Council wanted to buy, the European group EADS, the manufacturer of the Eurofighter, came with an offer. He proposed to Switzerland to sell him 33 Eurofighter used as quickly as possible. Price: 3.1 billion francs. Either the same sum as Switzerland had to pay for 22 new Gripen.

Germany could sell Eurofighter

Some observers in Germany think that the Eurofighter could also be a quick exit door to the current Swiss F-35 crisis. The chance means that from next year, 38 Eurofighter will be delivered to Germany. These planes, or part of them, could theoretically be quickly sold to Switzerland.

The German army now already has nearly 140 of these versatile combat aircraft and could wait a few more years before receiving new jets.

The German Bundestag approved 5.5 billion euros for the 38 new jets. By way of comparison, the 36 F-35 that Switzerland buy in the United States had to cost the maximum 6 billion, but they will now cost up to 1.3 billion more.

Switzerland should go through the German government and Chancellor Friedrich Merz or the Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius. Observers believe that this path is quite promising. Particularly because Germany has a great economic interest in doing business with Switzerland in the field of combat aircraft and in strengthening security cooperation.

Rafale: a call to Macron would be necessary

The French and their burst plane could also help the federal advisor can get out of the American vice. The manufacturer Dassault Aviation Quintuple currently the production of the Rafale. Export must therefore be stimulated, and the company expressly seeks buyers.

Rafale planes on the bridge of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.Keystone

French President Emmanuel Macron personally called for an increase in the production of combat aircraft. He wants to strengthen European security cooperation, extend the influence of France. According to observers, Switzerland has a real chance of taking advantage of it.

The problem is that the French are still angry by the way in which Switzerland has treated them. They felt betrayed, notably by Armasuisse and the former Minister of Defense. They still do not understand why their offer was less good than that of the Americans.

The atmosphere is tense, but the French also have an interest in doing business with their Swiss neighbor. According to a connoisseur of the Rafale, the Federal Council should, if he wants to gain their case, directly address the French President Emmanuel Macron.

And according to experts, both the burst and the Eurofighter have a non-negligible advantage: Switzerland tested these jets in depth a few years ago, it is no longer necessary to carry out clarifications for years.

The Czech Repainment, Ueli Maurer wanted it

There are still other possibilities of obtaining a fighting aircraft in a reasonable time.

In 2012, Germany also offered Switzerland to rent the Eurofighter as a transitional solution. Rental could also be an option today, if the Federal Council wanted to save time to rethink the whole situation with the Americans.

Renting jets is a common practice. Ueli Maurer already wanted to rent Swedish Gripen as a transient solution from 2016.

The Czech Republic, for example, has rented Gripen planes for years. Like Switzerland, the Czech Republic decided a few years ago to buy the F-35. But as this will only be delivered from 2031, a dozen Gripen will be rented again from 2027 until 2035. According to specialized publications, the entire rental, including the maintenance and training of pilots and technicians, costs around 70 million per year.

Would the Gripen, whose people did not want in 2014, comes to the rescue of Switzerland and its air security?

According to Priska Seiler Graf (PS), president of the National Council Security Commission, this crisis can also be a chance. She finds it would be appropriate to rethink the whole concept of air defense with an airplane like the F-35. Since the war in Ukraine, the situation has completely changed, she said.

Translated and adapted from German by Léa Krejci

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