The Swiss Air Force successfully lands its first F/A-18 fighter jet on the A1 highway in Vaud during the “Alpha Uno” military exercise.

The Swiss Air Force marked a significant milestone on Wednesday morning when its first F/A-18 fighter jet landed on the A1 highway between Payerne and Avenches in the canton of Vaud. The landing, executed flawlessly, followed a training mission lasting just over an hour after the jet took off from the Payerne military airfield.

Three additional fighter jets are scheduled to land on the same highway stretch later. Once landed, the jets will undergo preparations for takeoff, including refueling.

This operation is part of the “Alpha Uno” military exercise, aimed at testing the army’s decentralization capabilities—distributing personnel and equipment across the country swiftly. The specific section of the A1 highway in Vaud has been closed since Tuesday evening to facilitate this exercise.

©Keystone/SDA