US F-35A Fighters Confirmed for Switzerland in 2027 Balancing Security and Rising Costs
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In a statement to Keystone-ATS on September 6, 2025, the spokesperson for Armasuisse confirmed that the delivery of F-35A aircraft for Switzerland is still scheduled to begin in mid-2027 from the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin’s facility. For the government, it is now considered too late to reverse course, as the F/A-18 Hornets approach the end of their operational life and the first aircraft are expected to arrive in 2027 from Fort Worth, followed by deliveries from Cameri in 2028.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
On September 7, 2025, the U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demo Team showcased advanced aerial maneuvers at the Thunder Over New Hampshire Air Show, highlighting the fifth-generation fighter’s combination of stealth, speed, and agility. (Picture source: US DoD)
The contract signed in September 2022 covered 36 F-35As for 6.035 billion Swiss francs. However, the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework does not provide strict price guarantees by production lot, and the overall bill could rise by 650 million to 1.3 billion francs. In a country where the six-billion-franc ceiling was approved in a 2020 referendum, this increase has fueled controversy. Additional U.S. tariffs have further heightened tensions in Switzerland, where issues of industrial and budgetary sovereignty remain highly sensitive.
Public debate has hardened. Some, such as former astronaut Claude Nicollier, argue that the fleet should be expanded to 50 aircraft to meet long-term needs. Others advocate more radical solutions, including the proposal to delegate air policing to a European neighbor. Between these positions, Defense Minister Martin Pfister maintains a middle course, keeping the F-35 as the chosen option while leaving open the possibility of adjusting the fleet size to remain within the approved budget, which could reduce the order to around 30 to 32 aircraft.
Switzerland has selected the F-35A in the Block 4 standard, intended to expand its range of weapons, improve data fusion, and increase computing power. However, a report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on September 3 pointed to further delays and a reduced scope of capabilities in the near term, as the F135 engine and the PTMU cooling system have yet to receive the planned upgrades. In addition, the manufacturer has accumulated longer delivery delays than in the past, which obliges Bern to carefully synchronize the arrival of the F-35 with the gradual retirement of the Hornets.
The F-35A Lightning II is a multirole stealth fighter designed to provide both air superiority and precision strike capability. Its airframe is optimized for a reduced radar signature, while the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, the EOTS targeting system, and the Distributed Aperture System provide 360-degree coverage and advanced threat detection. The Helmet-Mounted Display System projects combat data directly into the pilot’s field of vision, enhancing responsiveness in both close-range engagements and beyond-visual-range operations. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine producing 43,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner, the aircraft can reach Mach 1.6 and operate above 15,000 meters, with a combat radius of 2,200 km using internal fuel.
The aircraft’s armament underlines its versatility. It carries an internal 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon and can employ AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, as well as JDAM and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb precision-guided munitions. It is also capable of launching the AGM-88 HARM to neutralize enemy radar systems. Weapons are stored internally to maintain stealth, but the aircraft can also use six external hardpoints if required, at the cost of a larger radar signature. This flexibility enables it to cover a wide spectrum of missions, including interception, air policing, close air support, and suppression of enemy defenses.
Confirmation of the first deliveries in 2027 places Switzerland among the European states that will make the F-35 the backbone of their air forces for decades to come. Interoperability with other operators, shared training and support, and access to a continental logistics network all weigh in favor of this trajectory.
On the industrial side, the RUAG-led RIGI project foresees the assembly and testing of four aircraft in Switzerland, representing close to 500 million francs in expected returns. Overall, offsets are estimated at 60 percent of the contract’s value, a critical factor for the national aerospace sector. This industrial participation could strengthen maintenance autonomy, secure access to the European F-35 support chain, and generate skilled employment.
The remaining question concerns Switzerland’s position in future fighter programs. The GCAP on one side and the FCAS on the other outline two different European pathways for the post-F-35 era. Switzerland’s choice favors immediate integration into the dominant Western standard but may reduce its margin for involvement in these next-generation projects. The final equation combines three difficult constraints: maintaining a credible air capability, respecting the budget ceiling approved by referendum, and preserving strategic flexibility in an environment where air superiority is being rapidly redefined.
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In a statement to Keystone-ATS on September 6, 2025, the spokesperson for Armasuisse confirmed that the delivery of F-35A aircraft for Switzerland is still scheduled to begin in mid-2027 from the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin’s facility. For the government, it is now considered too late to reverse course, as the F/A-18 Hornets approach the end of their operational life and the first aircraft are expected to arrive in 2027 from Fort Worth, followed by deliveries from Cameri in 2028.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
On September 7, 2025, the U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demo Team showcased advanced aerial maneuvers at the Thunder Over New Hampshire Air Show, highlighting the fifth-generation fighter’s combination of stealth, speed, and agility. (Picture source: US DoD)
The contract signed in September 2022 covered 36 F-35As for 6.035 billion Swiss francs. However, the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework does not provide strict price guarantees by production lot, and the overall bill could rise by 650 million to 1.3 billion francs. In a country where the six-billion-franc ceiling was approved in a 2020 referendum, this increase has fueled controversy. Additional U.S. tariffs have further heightened tensions in Switzerland, where issues of industrial and budgetary sovereignty remain highly sensitive.
Public debate has hardened. Some, such as former astronaut Claude Nicollier, argue that the fleet should be expanded to 50 aircraft to meet long-term needs. Others advocate more radical solutions, including the proposal to delegate air policing to a European neighbor. Between these positions, Defense Minister Martin Pfister maintains a middle course, keeping the F-35 as the chosen option while leaving open the possibility of adjusting the fleet size to remain within the approved budget, which could reduce the order to around 30 to 32 aircraft.
Switzerland has selected the F-35A in the Block 4 standard, intended to expand its range of weapons, improve data fusion, and increase computing power. However, a report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on September 3 pointed to further delays and a reduced scope of capabilities in the near term, as the F135 engine and the PTMU cooling system have yet to receive the planned upgrades. In addition, the manufacturer has accumulated longer delivery delays than in the past, which obliges Bern to carefully synchronize the arrival of the F-35 with the gradual retirement of the Hornets.
The F-35A Lightning II is a multirole stealth fighter designed to provide both air superiority and precision strike capability. Its airframe is optimized for a reduced radar signature, while the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, the EOTS targeting system, and the Distributed Aperture System provide 360-degree coverage and advanced threat detection. The Helmet-Mounted Display System projects combat data directly into the pilot’s field of vision, enhancing responsiveness in both close-range engagements and beyond-visual-range operations. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine producing 43,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner, the aircraft can reach Mach 1.6 and operate above 15,000 meters, with a combat radius of 2,200 km using internal fuel.
The aircraft’s armament underlines its versatility. It carries an internal 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon and can employ AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, as well as JDAM and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb precision-guided munitions. It is also capable of launching the AGM-88 HARM to neutralize enemy radar systems. Weapons are stored internally to maintain stealth, but the aircraft can also use six external hardpoints if required, at the cost of a larger radar signature. This flexibility enables it to cover a wide spectrum of missions, including interception, air policing, close air support, and suppression of enemy defenses.
Confirmation of the first deliveries in 2027 places Switzerland among the European states that will make the F-35 the backbone of their air forces for decades to come. Interoperability with other operators, shared training and support, and access to a continental logistics network all weigh in favor of this trajectory.
On the industrial side, the RUAG-led RIGI project foresees the assembly and testing of four aircraft in Switzerland, representing close to 500 million francs in expected returns. Overall, offsets are estimated at 60 percent of the contract’s value, a critical factor for the national aerospace sector. This industrial participation could strengthen maintenance autonomy, secure access to the European F-35 support chain, and generate skilled employment.
The remaining question concerns Switzerland’s position in future fighter programs. The GCAP on one side and the FCAS on the other outline two different European pathways for the post-F-35 era. Switzerland’s choice favors immediate integration into the dominant Western standard but may reduce its margin for involvement in these next-generation projects. The final equation combines three difficult constraints: maintaining a credible air capability, respecting the budget ceiling approved by referendum, and preserving strategic flexibility in an environment where air superiority is being rapidly redefined.
