Switzerland to Purchase Fewer F-35 Fighter Jets Amid Rising Costs

Switzerland’s aerial shield is shrinking before it even leaves the hangar. In a stark admission of financial reality, the Federal Council has confirmed that the Swiss Air Force will likely receive only 30 F-35 fighter jets, slashing the original fleet target of 36. This decision marks a critical pivot in national defense strategy, driven not by a change in military needs, but by the relentless pressure of global inflation.

The government is refusing to budge on the budget. Rather than seeking the massive funds required to maintain the original order, Bern is opting to acquire the "maximum number of aircraft possible" within the financial straightjacket approved by voters in 2020. While the security situation in Europe deteriorates, the purchasing power of the Swiss franc has been eroded by soaring commodity prices and production costs. The message from the Federal Council is clear: the wallet is closed, and the Air Force must make do with less.

The price tag for maintaining the original fleet size is staggering. To secure the full squadron of 36 jets, the government would need to request an additional loan of over CHF 1.1 billion ($1.25 billion). The Federal Council has categorically rejected this option. In a bold move to maintain fiscal discipline, they are "renouncing" the additional six aircraft rather than asking taxpayers for a billion-franc bailout.

However, even the reduced fleet comes with a surcharge. To secure just the 30 jets, Parliament must now approve an extra credit of CHF 394 million as part of the 2026 Armed Forces Dispatch. This sum is strictly to offset the "additional costs claimed by the US for inflation" and rising raw material prices since the referendum. It is a harsh economic lesson: in the world of high-tech military procurement, delay is expensive, and purchasing power can plummet overnight.

This procurement battle is a direct clash between direct democracy and military necessity. The government is strictly adhering to the "will of the people," referencing the narrow financial volume approved in the September 2020 referendum. By capping spending at the voter-approved limit, the Federal Council is avoiding a potential political firestorm that a new billion-franc credit would ignite.

Yet, this adherence to the 2020 mandate creates a strategic paradox. The exact number of jets will only be finalized once the US government concludes negotiations for the remaining engines and production batches. We are witnessing a procurement process where the budget dictates the strategy, rather than the strategy dictating the budget. The government asserts this path is the only one that respects the referendum, even if it leaves the Air Force with a lighter footprint than generals had hoped for.

The most alarming statistic lies in the gap between what Switzerland is buying and what it actually needs. Defense Ministry experts have assessed that for a comprehensive air defense geared toward the current threat landscape, the Air Force requires between 55 and 70 modern fighter jets. With a likely fleet of only 30 F-35s, Switzerland will possess barely half of the recommended firepower.

The government openly admits that this reduction will have "negative consequences" for the sustainability and performance of the Air Force. While they insist that "not buying any planes is not an option" given the worsening global security situation, the compromise is severe. We are left with a defense force that is technologically superior but numerically insufficient, a high-stakes gamble that relies on the hope that 30 advanced jets can do the work of 70.