Switzerland signs $6.25 billion contract for 36 F-35 fighters

USAF F-35 Demon Team Rehearsal over Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

National Armaments Director Martin Sonderegger and the Swiss F-35A Program Manager Darko Savic signed a purchase contract worth 6.035 Swiss Francs ($6.25 billion) for 36 F-35A jets at Armasuisse in Bern on 19 September 2022. The aircraft will be delivered between 2027 and 2030 and will replace the current fleet of F/A-18 Hornets and F-5 Tigers.

In addition to the aircraft, the procurement cost of the F-35A also cover mission specific equipment, weapons and ammunition, a logistics package, mission planning systems, training systems and initial training. Furthermore, the cost for the integration into the Swiss command and control system, for support services by industry, a risk amount, the inflation in the country of manufacturer, the USA, as well as the VAT on imports are also included.

Switzerland is procuring the aircraft via “Foreign Military Sales” (FMS) from the US government and at the same conditions that it applies to itself. The US government in turn transacts the procurement through its own contract with the manufacturer company Lockheed Martin.

The head of Program Air2030, Peter Winter, and the F-35 Program Manager, Darko Savic, also signed the offset agreement with Lockheed Martin. This forms the basis for the US manufacturer to conduct offset businesses with the Swiss industry. In this manner, Swiss companies receive contracts with a volume of around 2.9 billion Swiss Francs.

Written by Darren Bondi

Image: USAF/Staff Sgt. Thomas Barley