The jets, acquired in the 1990s, will age out by 2030. 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. 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.”. They could make one again. Image: G. Mader . mid-1990s. Among the questions, one will concern the acquisition of new fighter jets for the Swiss Air Force. Dassault hasn’t disclosed its Rafale pricing or offsets but historically tight relations between France and Switzerland as well as daily cross-border business suggest the French could have an edge. 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. Luckily examples of both aircraft survive today and are on display in… II is the only 5th Generation option for Switzerland's "Air 2030" fighter acquisition. NKF is intended to replace the Swiss air force’s Northrop F-5E/F Tiger IIs and Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets. You don’t need additional mission equipment to add capability to the aircraft,” Robinson says. The F-35 is the only 5th generation option but given the small Alpine nation’s needs, it’s arguably an odd one. 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. The Swiss Air Force operates a total of 34 single-seat F/A-18C and two-seat F/A-18D Hornet fighters. “Some people don’t see stealth as a really big benefit. 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. But Robinson maintains that the F-35’s sophistication makes it the only candidate viable in a broader air defense. The U.S. is expected to buy 22 aging fighter jets from Switzerland, a country that’s struggling to modernize its own air force. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. 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. Sunday’s vote translates into a razor-thin majority of 50.1 percent, or 1,605,700 votes, in favor of the acquisition. Previously he served as managing editor for Defense News. Switzerland in July 2018 began a new effort to buy a replacement fighter. “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. 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. On September 27, 2020, five bills will be put to the vote of Swiss citizens through a referendum. 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. 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. The Lightning ... [+] II is the only 5th Generation option for Switzerland's "Air 2030" fighter acquisition. In a previous competition the Saab Gripen E was selected to replace the F-5, but the Swiss public rejected the purchase of a new fighter in a referendum in 2014. FILE PHOTO: A Swiss Air Force F/A-18C Hornet passes in front of a Eurofighter Typhoon jet during tests organised by Armasuisse to replace the fighter jets of the Swiss Air Force … This result has created serious difficulties for the Swiss Air Force, which has a fleet of old combat aircraft. An F/A-18 Hornet flies over spectators during the annual live-fire event of the Swiss Air Force at the Axalp, over Brienz in the Bernese Alps, on Oct. 10, 2018. Five fighter types are being pitted against each to compete for a lucrative order for 30-40 aircraft for the Swiss Air Force. U.S. Stealth Drone Gets Sensor Pod To ‘See First, Strike First’ In Air-To-Air Combat, Biden Must Move Fast And Kill The Freedom Class LCS, Art Is Cheap, Aircraft Carriers Are Expensive—Russian Shipyard Dreams Up Wacky New Flattop, Four Reasons The Navy’s Bold Plans For Its Surface Fleet Are Doomed In The Biden Era, Does Britannia Rule The Waves Again? Presently, 13 nations operate more than 585 F-35s from 26 bases worldwide. The F-35’s reputation is built on its ability to penetrate sophisticated air defense environments, strike, and provide networked information to other aircraft, land and sea platforms. You may opt-out by. June 26, 2019 - 16:48 26 June 2020. The purchasing of new fighter planes stalled after the Swiss people voted against the acquisition of 22 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets in 2014. 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. Perhaps surprisingly, cost is one of the competitive advantages that Lockheed’s F-35 Switzerland campaign manager, Jim Robinson, is touting first. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Amherd stressed that the aircraft budget is to be seen as a ceiling. The Hunter was upgraded several times and was used mainly as an attack aircraft by … 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. She said that the purchase of new fighter planes is key to the future of the Swiss Armed Forces. 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. The government has confirmed plans to acquire new fighter jets for the Swiss air force for no more than CHF6 billion ($6.1 billion) over the next few years. Sign up for the Early Bird Brief, the defense industry's most comprehensive news and information, straight to your inbox. 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. From Europe, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale and the Saab Gripen E; from the US — the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. Swiss voters are set to back spending CHF6 billion on new fighter jets ... attempt at an upgrade of its air force. Despite the green light, the naysayers have already singled out the F-35 with Swiss Social Democrat parliamentarian Roger Nordmann telling Swiss public television that it is “out of the question to buy the American F-35s, which are the most expensive.”. 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. The Swiss legislature last week approved the budget for the Air 2030 modernization program, which includes $6.5 billion for 30-40 new aircraft and $2 billion for a complementary ground-based, air defense system. The FFA P-16 was a Swiss prototype ground attack jet fighter designed and produced by aircraft manufacturer Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein (FFA). A stealthy, networked jet could be considered overkill for an air policing mission. The jets, acquired in the 1990s, will age out by 2030. 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. Swiss voters backed buying new fighter jets, rejected curbs on immigration . He is based in Cologne, Germany. All of the Air 2030 competitors are pitching industrial offsets. In Lockheed’s case the sweeteners include the opportunity to produce about 400 canopies and transparencies (the canopy frame and glass) for the F-35 domestically. The Swiss opposition was energized in part by voters' views about the government of U.S. President Donald Trump, according to local media reports. As noted, the Swiss Air Force isn’t expected to do those things. An F-35A from the 34th Fighter Squadron “Rude Rams,” based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, flies over ... [+] the Swiss Alps during an evaluation by the Swiss Air Force in 2019. By giving us your email, you are opting in to the Early Bird Brief. by Gareth Jennings . 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. Boeing's Super Hornet could be a logical successor but Lockheed Martin's F-35A is more advanced. The F/A … 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. 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. 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. The country’s longstanding commitment to neutrality means its air force really only does air defense. Both projects only reached the prototype stage and ultimately both were cancelled. That irony exists alongside a populace divided about acquiring any new fighters. Concerns about cost and an undercurrent of reticence about American policy and arms sales factor into Swiss decision-making. Switzerland has operated the American fighter since the ... [+] mid-1990s. 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. Lockheed intends to define further industrial cooperation in the new year, according to Jim Robinson. “The vote represents a long-term investment in the security of the Swiss population and infrastructure,” she said. Source: Swiss Federal Chancellery. In fact, the Swiss government is requiring that the selected provider must place orders with Swiss firms worth 60% of the contract value. Robinson counters that Lockheed is “on a path” to get the CPFH down to $25,000 by 2025, two years before Swiss deliveries would start. Its air battle management capability has future utility as well, Gunzinger asserts. U.S. Navy representatives and the Swiss … 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. Today, the closest thing Dublin operates to a fighter plane is the Swiss-built Pilatus PC-9 trainer aircraft. 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. 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. “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. Given the F-35’s special ground infrastructure requirements (hangars, ALIS support system, secure mission planning), additional costs would logically be expected. 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). 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. The Air Force wants to buy new fighters, with candidates including the Airbus Eurofighter, French Rafale, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. U.K. Carrier Strike Group Declared Operational, Russia’s Dirty-Bomb Robo-Sub Is ‘Grotesque’—But Moscow’s Building A Base For It, Anyway. (Image credit: Alessandro Fucito). That’s A Tough Sell. The Lightning II is also headed in the right direction in terms of volume, support and cost per flight hour (CPFH), Lockheed’s campaign manager asserts. Many oppose the idea, saying the neutral country neither can afford nor needs cutting-edge warplanes to defend Alpine territory which a supersonic jet can cross in 10 minutes. Given the situation and the competition, what is Lockheed’s sales pitch to the Swiss? LMT A Swiss Air Force Hornet takes off from Meiringen Air Base. A growing number are in Europe and the F-35 Final Assembly and Checkout Facility (FACO) in nearby Cameri, Italy, provides synergy with potential Swiss maintenance/support operations. Switzerland, which last fought a foreign war more than 200 years ago and has no discernable enemies, wants to spend billions on new fighter jets. Flying American equipment, as the Swiss Air Force currently does, brings interoperability and diplomatic benefits. “If we can get suitable aircraft for less, we will certainly look at that,” she said. However, so does the knowledge that Europe is at best 15 years away from fielding its own 5th Generation fighter. Apart from buying new jets, modernising Switzerland’s air defences also means investing in a new ground-based air defence system – without which the armed forces would be “unable to protect our country and people from airborne attacks”. 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. Nonetheless, there remain doubts among the Swiss that an F-35 buy would stay within budget. Swiss F/A-18 jets are to be upgraded while the MoD seeks to enact a new generation fighter programme. Critics assert that these and others would push the bill for F-35s to $27 billion (CHF 24 billion). The Swiss Air Force operates a total of 34 single-seat F/A-18C and two-seat F/A-18D Hornet fighters. The Hawker Hunter had a very long career in Swiss Air Force from the late 1950s until they were retired in 1994. Wafer-thin majority approves new fighter jets The air force flirted with a second defeat in six years before scraping over the line. As noted, the Swiss Air Force isn’t expected to do those things. From a pure expediency and practicality standpoint, a Swiss decision to go with the F-35A seems like a long shot. 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. Switzerland is to hold a national referendum on its Air2030 requirement to procure new combat aircraft on … A new poll reveals that 58% of voters are in favor of procurement. “This is supported by multiple reports that have been published about its performance during Red Flags and other exercises as a counterair and battle management aircraft. 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. The Swiss Air Force operated 160 aircraft, both new and second-hand. A Swiss Air Force F/A-18C after takeoff. 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. Swiss set date for fighter referendum. 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 government has been keen to modernize the air force… “The aircraft is ready on day one. 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. A stealthy, networked jet could be considered overkill for an air policing mission. The JAS-39, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Lockheed Martin F … Robinson stresses that the Swiss upgrade program, called “Air 2030,” seeks a fighter that can meet evolving threats over four decades (2030-2070). It was Switzerland's second attempt to develop a domestically designed and manufactured jet fighter, following the EFW N-20.. Work on what would become the P-16 commenced during the late 1940s. The result was different this past September. That’s probably true for the Swiss Air Force but it is a benefit.”, Mark Gunzinger, senior analyst at the Air Force’s Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, says the F-35A’s stealth is a “threshold requirement for an air force that is concerned about trends in adversary counterair capabilities.”. What it primarily needs is an interceptor. Ireland, Malta and Luxembourg don't have jets, they say, … Bottom line, 4th gen-plus candidates do not have the degree of survivability and potential for mission growth a true 5th gen fighter like the F-35 can offer.”. Based on the requirements published by the DDPS on 23 March 2018, the five candidates handed over their offers on 25 January 2019. 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. The F-35 he says, is the “best tool” to adapt to geopolitical and technological change. Surrounded by five European nations, Switzerland has a total land border of 1,151 miles. Boeing's Super Hornet could be a logical successor but Lockheed Martin's F-35A is more advanced. The inducements may not be enough to overcome a pledge from Airbus to assemble all 40 Eurofighter Typhoons with a partner company in Switzerland. Sebastian Sprenger is associate editor for Europe at Defense News, reporting on the state of the defense market in the region, and on U.S.-Europe cooperation and multi-national investments in defense and global security. the Swiss Alps during an evaluation by the Swiss Air Force in 2019. The F-35 in its quarterbacking role can provide valuable data as they look to upgrade their ground-based air defense systems.”, One might also question the value of stealth. Existing Swiss Air Force F-18 – © Andrew David Periam | Dreamstime.com 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. F-35A. “In their Air 2030 upgrade program they are looking for a combined defensive air network. 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. The Air Force wants to buy new … Neighboring Typhoon operators like Germany are offering training opportunities away from the noise-conscious Swiss in their own countries. The reduction in fighter jets was accompanied by a decrease in the number of operational airbases and mirrored the overall downsizing of Swiss Armed … A pair of RAF Eurofighter Typhoons in formation with an F-35 during RAF Exercise Crimson Warrior in ... [+] 2020. All vendors must meet a deadline of Nov. 18 to deliver final proposals. 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. The voter turnout was 59.4 percent, according to figures published online Sunday evening by the Federal Chancellery. Eurofighter Typhoon Fighter Aircraft New extended-range ground-based air defence system All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. MBDA uses micro-drone as a spotter for its anti-tank missile, Biden proposing 5-year extension of nuke treaty with Russia, says US official, Elbit UK to make new target-marking kits for British foot soldiers, Macron calls on Biden for greater US military involvement, Hensoldt buys Austrian AI specialist Sail Labs to boost its sensor-fusion portfolio. A USAF 34th Fighter Squadron F-35A lands at Payerne Air Base in western Switzerland. The Swiss Air Force launched “Air 2030” program aimed to the selection of its future fighter and, as part of the program, the air arms carried out the evaluation of four candidate aircraft: the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Dassault Rafale, and the Lockheed Martin F-35. Next summer, the Swiss government will choose one of four contenders to replace its ageing fleet of F-5 Tigers and F/A-18 Hornets by 2030: Airbus’ Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault’s Rafale, Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, and Lockheed Martin’s The Swiss Air Force announced on Friday it has accepted five bids for a new fighter aircraft as part of Switzerland’s air power modernization effort named Air2030. In 2014 the Swiss public voted to reject the purchase of Saab JAS-39 Gripens to replace the Hornets. There was 49.9 percent, or 1,597,030 votes, against. “I get it,” Robinson says. Prodded by reporters about the the narrowness of the vote, she said: “In a democracy it’s a given that we respect the majority decision.”. Despite Huge Losses, United Airlines Tries Talking Positively. Swiss Air Force F/A-18s routinely do, fulfilling their air defense/air policing mission. Up for the Early Bird Brief define further industrial cooperation in the 1990s, age. 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Editor for defense news about acquiring any new fighters despite Huge Losses, United Airlines Tries Positively! A combined defensive Air network partner company in Switzerland to deliver final proposals, This a! Spending CHF6 billion on new fighter jets in 2014 the Swiss public swiss air force new fighter jet to reject the purchase of Saab Gripens. Martin 's F-35A is more advanced Gripens to replace the Hornets single-seat F/A-18C and two-seat F/A-18D Hornet.. Six years before scraping over the line comprehensive news and information, straight to your inbox 40 Eurofighter with. Investment in the security of the Air Force for 30-40 aircraft for the Swiss Air Force ] II is only. Force operates a total land border of 1,151 miles ] mid-1990s Force Hornet takes off from Meiringen Air Base western. Technological change jets the Air Force currently does, brings interoperability and diplomatic benefits 34 single-seat F/A-18C two-seat. 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