Swiss army
The invoice for F-35 combat aircraft could increase
The price of the 36 combat planes could fly away and shake Bern. An SRF investigation throws discredit on the former Federal Councilor Viola Amherd.
Martin Pfister will explain Tuesday at the National Council Security Policy Commission if the acquisition of the F-35 will be more expensive than expected.
ANTHONY ANEX/KEYSTONE
- The purchase of the F-35 could cost an additional 1.5 billion francs, according to the SRF.
- Viola Amherd would have been informed of additional costs in the summer of 2024.
- The security committee awaits Martin Pfister explanations next Tuesday.
Viola Amherd is categorical. Switzerland will not pay more than 6 billion francs to the United States for Fighting planes F-35 ordered. This is a fixed amount. American inflation will have no effect on the final amount.
The new Minister of Defense, the centrist Martin Pfister (ZG), spoke on the subject last Monday at the National Council, with significantly less determination. In response to a question from Fabian Molina (PS/ZH), he said: “We consider that this is a fixed price. If the situation were to change, we would inform you. ”
At this point, you will find additional external content. If you accept that cookies are placed by external suppliers and that personal data are transmitted to them, you must allow all cookies and directly display external content.
This answer aroused the suspicions of some at the Federal Palace. Indeed, in recent months, rumors are running in the corridors of Parliament. The 36 planes would cost Switzerland more than expected.
SRF revelations
A SRF survey indicates that the Minister of Defense may have to rectify his past statements. It is rumored in the federal administration that the Confederation will have to pay more than expected for the acquisition of F-35 combat aircraft. We are talking about 1.3 to 1.5 billion additional francs.
The SRF is based on the research of an independent journalist as well as on his own sources. The American government seems to invoke the increase in production costs to justify this increase.
The acquisition of F-35 combat aircraft could cost much more than expected: around 1.5 billion francs in addition to the agreed fixed price of 6 billion.
PETER KLAUNER/KEYSTONE
According to the SRF, Viola Amherd would have been aware of the additional costs in the summer of 2024. However, it would not have transmitted this information to the entire Federal Council in December, just before announcing its resignation. Since January, the Defense Department (DDPS) has organized two confidential meetings on this subject with other federal advisers.
If this information were to be confirmed, it would be disastrous for the Swiss government, and this would seriously tarnish the balance sheet of Viola Amherd as a federal councilor. However, this information has not yet been confirmed.
The security committee awaits responses
Asked about this question, the DDPS provided the same answer as that given by Martin Pfister. “The price set in agreement with the United States government applies to the purchase of Aircraft F-35 by Switzerland. ” The Federal Council has the file in hand.
This statement does not satisfy Piska Seiler Graf. The Zurich socialist, who chairs the national council security policy commission, asked for more specific information at the DDPS. “I expect from Martin Pfister that he tells us what it is.” He was assured that the Minister of Defense will approach this issue during the committee meeting next Tuesday.
If the information revealed by this investigation is exact, the politician speaks of “scandal”. “We would have lied to A to Z.” The F-35 is “an oversized luxury bomber who is absolutely not adapted to air police tasks and who, according to the American manufacturer’s reports, will result in exorbitant maintenance costs over its lifespan,” said the National PS Councilor in a press release. She adds today: “The fixed price has always been the main argument of the project defenders. If it cannot be maintained, the situation changes completely. ”
Priska Seiler Graf (PS/ZH) says it without detour: “I am worried. In addition to increasing costs, the F-35 program also accuses delays. ”
Urs jaudas/tamedia
His socialist colleagues Fabian Molina and Franziska Roth posted two motions on the same content on Thursday, even before the report of the SRF report. These require that citizens can vote on an additional cost linked to the acquisition of combat aircraft. Priska Seiler Graf supports them. “From the point of view of democracy, it is the only way to do that is legitimate.”
“No alternative to F-35”, according to Werner Salzmann
It is difficult to predict the consequences if the additional costs were confirmed and the population did not want to assume them.
The national advisor Werner Salzmann (UDC/BE) refuses to speculate in the absence of new information. “The Federal Council has repeatedly repeated to us that the agreement concluded with the Americans guarantees fixed prices. If the United States now decided not to honor this commitment, this would represent an unacceptable contractual violation. ”
But for him, one thing is certain: “There is no alternative to the F-35.” Without this agreement, Switzerland will no longer be able to ensure the protection of its airspace within a few years. Switzerland will receive the combat aircraft gradually between 2027 and 2030. “Acquiring jets from a different manufacturer would be impossible in such a tight period. And such a purchase would probably prove to be more expensive in the end. ”
Fabian Molina replies that Switzerland faces a fundamental security problem as long as it remains dependent on the United States and Donald Trump concerning F-35. He considers that the Federal Council has three options: “First: interruption of exercises, towards a new concept of protection of airspace. Second: a popular vote. Third: a purchase reduced by planes, with all the drawbacks that this has. ”
Past alerts of federal finance control
This is not the first time that we have mentioned possible costs of costs for the F-35. Thus, three years ago, federal finance control concluded that there was “no absolute legal security of a fixed price within the meaning of a flat -rate price according to Swiss law”. The uncertainty intensified at the Federal Palace with the return of Donald Trump to the White House. The future will say if the whistleblowers were right.
Translated from German by Emmanuelle Stevan
“Latest news”
Do you want to stay at the top of the info? “24 Hours” offers you two meetings per day, directly in your email box. To not miss anything of what is happening in your canton, Switzerland or in the world.
Other newsletters
Did you find an error? Please report it to us.
