The United States has inflated the bill of its f-35 hunters: Switzerland should finally buy less than expected

Switzerland could buy fewer American F-35 combat planes if the additional cost claimed by the United States exceeded the maximum fixed budget, Swiss Defense Minister said on Sunday.

Bern and Washington do not agree with the final price of the 36 planes ordered to replace the aged Swiss fleet.

“We will respect the maximum planned budget. If the price were higher, we will study different options, such as buying less aircraft or looking for optimizations within the project,” said Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister, in an interview published by Le Matin on Sunday.

According to Bern, Switzerland and the United States have contractually agreed with a firm price in 2022 of just over 6 billion francs (6.4 billion current euros) for these Lockheed Martin American combat planes.

But on June 25, the Swiss government announced that the United States claimed additional costs that amounted to between 650 million and $ 1.3 billion linked to inflation and increased prices of raw materials and energy.

A “misunderstanding” according to Washington

The United States evokes a “misunderstanding” according to Bern, which is looking for a “negotiated” solution.

“I intend to provide solutions, as quickly as possible. In any case, it would be necessary to buy this plane,” said Martin Pfister on Sunday morning, because “even with this additional cost, the F-35 remains cheaper than its competitors.”

“It is also a new generation plane and is used by many European countries. From the North Cape to Norway to Sicily in Italy, several European countries have opted for the F-35. It is important for the defense of our airspace that Switzerland is integrated into this system. Therefore, I am convinced of this choice,” he said.

The question of the additional cost is the issue of an animated controversy in Switzerland and a parliamentary commission has decided to investigate.

Deliveries must begin in 2027.

In September 2020, the Swiss approved little during a popular vote an envelope of 6 billion francs so that the country has a new fleet, the devices in the F/A-18 service that reach the end of life around 2030.

During the election of the aircraft, the Swiss government said that the American plane was, with much, the best, at the lowest price of all competitors in the operation of the contract (Rafale, F/A-18 and Eurofighter).