Switzerland buys fewer F-35 jets due to cost concerns

(MENAFN) Switzerland has announced it will buy fewer than the initially planned 36 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets due to increased procurement costs, though the exact number of jets to be purchased has not yet been finalized.

The Swiss government stated it intends to acquire the "maximum possible number" of F-35s while staying within the $7.5 billion (CHF 6 billion) budget approved by voters, emphasizing that no additional funding will be requested in order to honor the “will of the people.”

The decision comes after the US announced additional costs of up to $1.6 billion (CHF 1.3 billion) this summer, making the full purchase of 36 jets unaffordable under the existing budget, officials said.

Switzerland’s Defense Ministry plans to present an internal prioritization of requirements for 2026/2027 by the end of January. Based on that assessment, the government may consider procuring additional jets, a move that would require parliamentary approval and potentially a public vote.

Authorities noted that even with previously approved fighter jets and ground-based air defense systems, the Swiss armed forces would only be able to defend against airborne threats "to a limited extent." Full cancellation of the F-35 program has been ruled out.

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