Switzerland must pay for the retrofitting of F35 fighter jets
Published: Sunday, Jul 7th 2024, 19:30
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The federal government will have to pay for the retrofitting of the 35 fighter jets that the Department of Defense (DDPS) has ordered from US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin. This was confirmed by the Federal Armaments Office Armasuisse. The procurement of the 36 fighter jets itself will cost Switzerland six billion Swiss francs.
Armasuisse spokesperson Kaj-Gunnar Sievert said on the SRF radio program "Echo der Zeit" on Sunday evening that the retrofitting of the fighter jets must be paid for by the customer. And that is Switzerland. This was first reported in the "Blick" newspaper.
The retrofit affects the engines of the F35 fighter jets, which will only be retrofitted in the USA itself after deliveries to Switzerland begin in 2027. According to Sievert, it is not yet possible to estimate how high the additional costs will be for Switzerland. However, the F35 is "not a financial risk", assured the Armasuisse spokesperson.
In September 2020, the Swiss electorate voted in favor of the procurement of new fighter jets - by an extremely narrow margin of 50.1 percent.
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