Opponents of the plan could still derail it by seeking another referendum, a step that would require 100,000 signatures and could take years to unfold. Switzerland is to hold a national referendum on its Air2030 requirement to procure new combat aircraft on … The Swiss Air Force operates a total of 34 single-seat F/A-18C and two-seat F/A-18D Hornet fighters. A huge presence of National Guard troops descends on the U.S. capital in the wake of a violent storming of the Capitol building on Jan. 6, as authorities prepare for more threats during the inauguration. “Some people don’t see stealth as a really big benefit. America's Top Givers: The 25 Most Philanthropic Billionaires, EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Joe Biden Could Rescue The Last Nuclear Treaty—But Don’t Expect Him To Negotiate A New One, Clarified ‘Unfair And Deceptive’ Language Improves Airline Pricing Transparency, Russia Is Building Four Special Submarines To Haul Its Weird Doomsday Drone. What use advanced ISR capabilities might be to Swiss aircraft operating within or near Swiss airspace and what annoyance or offense switching on systems that scoop considerable data might be to Swiss neighbors seem to be reasonable questions. the Swiss Alps during an evaluation by the Swiss Air Force in 2019. LMT II is the only 5th Generation option for Switzerland's "Air 2030" fighter acquisition. Nonetheless, there remain doubts among the Swiss that an F-35 buy would stay within budget. In addition, the Swiss Air Force will use the new fighter aircraft for air policing around the clock, and, in case of armed attack, defend the air space for a limited period of time and support the ground forces. Boeing's Super Hornet could be a logical successor but Lockheed Martin's F-35A is more advanced. A Swiss Air Force Hornet takes off from Meiringen Air Base. The company is already working with two Swiss optics suppliers and additional opportunities could theoretically extend to other Swiss industries like its depressed precision timepiece sector. But it was a nail-biter with 50.1% of the roughly three million who cast ballots voting “yea,” fewer than 9,000 more than those voting “nay,” for a measure setting aside $6.5 billion to buy 36 to 40 new aircraft. He stresses that Lockheed’s proposal includes 40 aircraft (rather than the 36 reported) with significant industrial offset, priced within the $6.5 billion budget. However, so does the knowledge that Europe is at best 15 years away from fielding its own 5th Generation fighter. Swiss parliament approves new 6 billion franc fighter jet purchase 27/12/2019 By Le News Before Christmas, Switzerland’s parliament approved the purchase of a new fleet of fighter jets costing CHF 6 billion, according to RTS. The Air Force wants to buy new … Under its Air2030 programme, Switzerland is seeking to procure new combat aircraft and ground-based air defenses in a programme valued at up to 8 billion Swiss francs ($8.08 billion). The government will then evaluate the bids throughout the first half of 2021 and make a decision on the aircraft type and missile defense hardware by June. It was only in the 1930s that an effective air force was established at great cost, capable of inflicting several embarrassing defeats on the Nazi Luftwaffe in the course of an initially vigorous defence of neutral Swiss airspace. The Swiss Air Force operates a total of 34 single-seat F/A-18C and two-seat F/A-18D Hornet fighters. As noted, the Swiss Air Force isn’t expected to do those things. The F-35 he says, is the “best tool” to adapt to geopolitical and technological change. Image: G. Mader . In the 1950's the Swiss worked on the development of two domestically designed and produced jet combat aircraft for the Swiss Air Force, the EFW N-20 Aiguillon (Sting) fighter and the FFA P-16 ground attack fighter. Also, a push to develop counter-drone measures and the Military Times editors and Bureau Chiefs break down the week's top stories on Defense News Weekly for Jan. 16, 2020. Ironically, its F/A-18Cs are multi-role aircraft as are all those in the quartet vying to replace them, none more so than the F-35. A stealthy, networked jet could be considered overkill for an air policing mission. He adds that unlike its competitors, the F-35 will not require the Swiss to buy additional accessories like launch rails, targeting pods or special weapons interfaces, all of which are integrated within the F-35A. “I get it,” Robinson says. The Swiss have kicked off flying season for the five types of combat aircraft under consideration to replace the country's aging fleet, with several demonstrations scheduled between now and early July. Amherd stressed that the aircraft budget is to be seen as a ceiling. All of the Air 2030 competitors are pitching industrial offsets. Its air battle management capability has future utility as well, Gunzinger asserts. Swiss Air Force F/A-18s routinely do, fulfilling their air defense/air policing mission. Among the questions, one will concern the acquisition of new fighter jets for the Swiss Air Force. Switzerland would be the European hub for such work and take on unspecified engine and airframe sustainment projects for its own operations and possibly others. COLOGNE, Germany — Swiss voters have approved a government plan to spend $6.5 billion on new fighter aircraft by a margin of 8,670 votes, with the two U.S. vendors in the race feeling the backlash of anti-Trump sentiments. Perhaps surprisingly, cost is one of the competitive advantages that Lockheed’s F-35 Switzerland campaign manager, Jim Robinson, is touting first. Luckily examples of both aircraft survive today and are on display in… Fielding a 5th-gen stealth fighter for a straight ahead defensive counter air mission may seem a contradiction in terms but the Swiss have a history of independent and often peculiar choices. “The vote represents a long-term investment in the security of the Swiss population and infrastructure,” she said. A USAF 34th Fighter Squadron F-35A lands at Payerne Air Base in western Switzerland. The jets, acquired in the 1990s, will age out by 2030. By giving us your email, you are opting in to the Early Bird Brief. “We’re in a great position … We’re going to come in at or below the cost of the 4th generation competitors so I think that makes us really competitive,” Robinson says. A stealthy, networked jet could be considered overkill for an air policing mission. The F/A … “This could include acting as battle managers for teams of unmanned aircraft.” He adds that the F-35’s defensive air chops meet or exceed those of the other candidates. What it primarily needs is an interceptor. Ireland, Malta and Luxembourg don't have jets, they say, … A Swiss Air Force F/A-18C after takeoff. The preparatory work for the procurement of a new fighter aircraft for the Swiss Air Force to replace the F/A-18C/D and the F-5E/F began about one and a half years ago. The Swiss would have access to an F-35 Information Center of Excellence, an in-country data center allowing for Swiss companies to test their cyber capabilities in a secure environment and to look at information exchanged within the F-35 network. “In their Air 2030 upgrade program they are looking for a combined defensive air network. Swiss voters are set to back spending CHF6 billion on new fighter jets ... attempt at an upgrade of its air force. Lockheed intends to define further industrial cooperation in the new year, according to Jim Robinson. Defence Minister Viola Amherd told reporters she considers the result, however close, a mandate to continue ongoing evaluations of the Eurofighter, the Rafale, the F-18 Super Hornet and the F-35A. Flying American equipment, as the Swiss Air Force currently does, brings interoperability and diplomatic benefits. In 2014 the Swiss public voted to reject the purchase of Saab JAS-39 Gripens to replace the Hornets. The inducements may not be enough to overcome a pledge from Airbus to assemble all 40 Eurofighter Typhoons with a partner company in Switzerland. Despite Huge Losses, United Airlines Tries Talking Positively. 26 June 2020. The thirty F/A-18 jets can still be used until 2030, while the F-5 Tiger II jets are already obsolete - about half of the aircraft (26) are still in flight conditions. Lockheed is also offering, at additional cost, Swiss defense contractor RUAG the opportunity to assemble an additional four F-35s itself, building expertise for the Swiss technicians currently maintaining the country’s Hornets. The Swiss opposition was energized in part by voters' views about the government of U.S. President Donald Trump, according to local media reports. At cruise speed (approximately 470 knots), an F-35A could fly north to south across the country in about 15 minutes and west to east in about 24 minutes. She said that the purchase of new fighter planes is key to the future of the Swiss Armed Forces. Boeing is stressing the cost and structural continuity advantages of its Super Hornet and reportedly, “working with more than 100 current and new partners across Switzerland.”. F-35A. mid-1990s. Given the F-35’s special ground infrastructure requirements (hangars, ALIS support system, secure mission planning), additional costs would logically be expected. Five fighter types are being pitted against each to compete for a lucrative order for 30-40 aircraft for the Swiss Air Force. A pair of RAF Eurofighter Typhoons in formation with an F-35 during RAF Exercise Crimson Warrior in ... [+] 2020. The jets, acquired in the 1990s, will age out by 2030. The purchasing of new fighter planes stalled after the Swiss people voted against the acquisition of 22 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets in 2014. Reporters Roundtable: Defending the Capitol, Losing an edge in irregular warfare, leaps in missile defense - Defense News Weekly, 01.10.21, https://www.defensenews.com © 2021 Sightline Media Group, The F-35 and other warplanes descend on Switzerland this spring, Capitol riots aftermath, and a new push for counter-drone efforts - Defense News Weekly 01.17.21. Flying hour costs are notoriously hard to calculate and compare but Robinson adds that an expanding international fleet larger than those of the Eurofighter or Rafale will lower the average further. On 6 September, Swiss Defence Minister Guy Parmelin presented the Bundesrat (the Swiss Governmental Ministerial Council) with a proposal for the complete replacement of the Swiss Air Force's (SwAF's) 26 F-5E/Fs and 31 F/A-18C/Ds. Neighboring Typhoon operators like Germany are offering training opportunities away from the noise-conscious Swiss in their own countries. U.S. Navy representatives and the Swiss … During the pre-referendum campaign, the two U.S. vendors in the running, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, saw themselves lumped in with his foreign policy approach, considered reckless by many in the wealthy European countries such as Switzerland. But Robinson maintains that the F-35’s sophistication makes it the only candidate viable in a broader air defense. The history of the Swiss Air Force began in 1914 with the establishment of an ad hoc force consisting of a handful of men in outdated and largely civilian aircraft. Sign up for the Early Bird Brief, the defense industry's most comprehensive news and information, straight to your inbox. As a former USAF F-16 pilot, Robinson says that he “would have loved to be sure the offensive air didn’t know where I was in my defensive counter-air role.”, But he recognizes that scanning Switzerland for air defense aircraft taking off from known locations isn’t a tough job. He points out that the Swiss request for proposals specifically asked for the ability to reintroduce their pilots to the air-ground mission role and for ISR capability. “The aircraft is ready on day one. Swiss set date for fighter referendum. This result has created serious difficulties for the Swiss Air Force, which has a fleet of old combat aircraft. Critics assert that these and others would push the bill for F-35s to $27 billion (CHF 24 billion). Eurofighter Typhoon Fighter Aircraft New extended-range ground-based air defence system Presently, 13 nations operate more than 585 F-35s from 26 bases worldwide. The F-35’s CPFH has been a topic among program partner nations as well as the Swiss who acknowledge that at $35,000 per hour, it is almost twice as expensive as its European and American competitors. All vendors must meet a deadline of Nov. 18 to deliver final proposals. 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