ZURICH, June 24 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Swiss government announced on Wednesday it has entered formal contract negotiations with manufacturers from France, Israel, and South Korea.
This initiative aims to acquire a second, non-US air defence system, following significant delays to the country’s existing order for American Patriot missile technology.
Switzerland placed an order for Patriot missile defence systems from Raytheon and Lockheed Martin in 2022. While originally expected for delivery between 2026 and 2028, that timeline shifted by four to five years. The adjustment occurred as the United States prioritized supply chains to support the war effort in Ukraine.
The Swiss defence ministry confirmed it has now restarted previously paused payments to the United States for the Patriot systems. Officials noted that delivery of the U.S.-made units could potentially begin from 2027. Despite moving forward with these payments, the government is pursuing alternative options to ensure national aerial defence capacity remains robust.
The decision to seek a secondary system is driven by a deteriorating security environment in Europe. By diversifying its military procurement, Switzerland intends to reduce its reliance on a single provider and a singular supply chain. The ministry stated that this approach is vital for strengthening the security of supply for the nation.
National armaments director Urs Loher told a press conference that while the list of potential partners includes Israel, the selected technology would not be the Arrow defence system. Meanwhile, Swiss defence minister Martin Pfister acknowledged that a second order would likely exceed the cost of the initial 2 billion franc Patriot contract.
“In addition, a second system reduces dependence on a single provider and a single supply chain, thereby strengthening security of supply,” the ministry said in a statement.
The government objective is to obtain a functional system as soon as possible. If the original Patriot order encounters further setbacks, the Swiss authorities intend to have the secondary system already in place. This move ensures that the neutral country maintains the capability to defend itself against potential attacks. Switzerland had previously explored options involving Germany, but the current focus remains on manufacturers from France, Israel, and South Korea to address immediate capacity needs.
