A Swiss F-35 Dilemma

For what purpose does Switzerland need overpriced fighter jets with obscure capabilities?

Switzerland is going to buy a batch of F-35A fighter aircraft. However, it faces a growth of costs, reduction of the number of planes, and uncertainty regarding their capabilities, which puts the need for this purchase – the most expensive one to date – into question. This conclusion is made by Matthias Dietrich, former research assistant for the Defense and Military Analysis Program. His analysis on this matter was published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Paying more for less does not sound like a great deal, but this is where Switzerland has landed in the purchase of its next combat aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. The Swiss Ministry of Defense had first planned to buy 36 of the type, but the budget, even with a modest increase, is now expected to cover no more than 30 of the fighter/ground-attack aircraft.

The Swiss Federal Council, the country’s government, asked in March 2026 for an additional CHF 394 million (USD 511.64 million) to top up the originally approved sum of CHF 6.04 billion (USD 6.32 billion). So the Swiss aircraft number may not be finalized until the second quarter of 2027. Simultaneously, U.S. program officials are narrowing the scope of the current Block 4 modernization package, meaning that some features for the Swiss aircraft may only be added later, likely at further cost.

Switzerland’s acquisition of the F-35A is its most expensive defense procurement to date, and its selection of the aircraft has been controversial. Following talks with the USA in 2025, it became clear that the price tag for 36 F‑35A aircraft could increase by one and a half billion dollars. Until then, the Swiss Federal Council had maintained that the price was fixed, arguing that it already accounted for inflation and was backed by Switzerland-specific clauses and mechanisms beyond standard U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) terms. Washington, however, has pointed out that with FMS deals, the original prices are estimates and are therefore liable to change.

The original contract price had been set based on a ceiling approved by referendum in 2020 and excluded an estimated CHF 9.4 billion (USD 10.68 billion) in operating costs over 30 years. Switzerland’s choice of a low-observable, multi-role combat aircraft to meet what is predominantly an air-policing requirement raised eyebrows.

In theory, Switzerland could cancel the planned purchase before delivery is due to begin in 2027. Such a decision would leave the country facing the costs associated with contract termination, as well as the estimated CHF 1 billion (USD 1.2 billion) spent by the end of 2025. It would also still have to fund the acquisition of another type of combat aircraft, assuming it still intended to modernize its fighter fleet, or explore other options, such as leasing aircraft. But all those options would need additional funding – to be torn away from other urgent needs.

So now Switzerland has to shell out billions for planes with indefinite functionality whose combat capability looks superfluous, given the State’s modest size.

Source: https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2026/05/a-swiss-f-35-dilemma/