The country's current fleet of F-5 Tigers and F/A-18s is ageing.
Keystone / Peter Klaunzer
The Swiss parliament has approved the purchase of a new fleet of fighter jets to the tune of some CHF6 billion ($6.1 billion). The plans may yet face approval by citizens.
Both chambers of parliament have now accepted plans proposed by the government to buy up to 30 new fighter jets, a step it says is vital for the stability and security of the country.
As the current fleet of fighters used by the army are nearing the end of their use period, the government says, a new batch is needed to defend the country’s airspace beyond 2030.
The CHF6 billion package approved by politicians on Thursday came after negotiations about “compensatory payments”, which stipulate that whichever foreign company lands the contract must reinvest a certain amount of it in Switzerland.
Initial stubbornness by the Senate around the extent of the payments were forced down to a compromise figure of 60%. Of this, 20% will be direct payments (i.e. to companies contributing to the building of the fighters) and 40% indirect, to other firms in the security and related sectors.
The list of such sectors – including watchmaking, chemicals, and plastics – was drawn up partially to assuage the fears of French-speaking regions, where the defence industry is rather absent; quotas for ensuring the money is divided across Switzerland have also been decided.
Public approval?
It’s not yet clear which company will provide the jets, though four are being considered: Dassault, Airbus, Boeing, and Lockheed-Martin.
Critics of the entire project, notably from the left, see the compensatory payments system as a way of extending surreptitious state aid to industries. The government says they are a further means of strengthening Swiss security.
The debate is not over: left-wing groups are planning to challenge the decision through referendum, for which they need to collect 50,000 signatures. A nationwide vote is thus likely, possibly later in 2020.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Legal action filed against Swiss purchase of Israeli drones
This content was published on
Legal action aims to put an end to the delivery of the six Elbit reconnaissance drones already plagued by delays and setbacks.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
This content was published on
The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Head of Swiss financial regulator’s Banks division quits
This content was published on
Thomas Hirschi, head of the Banks division of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA will leave at the end of August.
Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey
This content was published on
In a survey, the population of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Respondents were less happy with politics and their personal finances, according to the online comparison service Moneyland.
WHO ‘extremely concerned’ about growing vaccination scepticism
This content was published on
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccination scepticism and a collapse in funding for vaccination campaigns pose a major threat to the health of the world's population.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
This content was published on
The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
This content was published on
Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Details of planned fighter jet purchase agreed
This content was published on
The government has consolidated plans to buy new fighter jets for the Swiss air force for no more than CHF6 billion over the next few years.
Five Swiss fighter jets grounded after cracks found
This content was published on
The Swiss Air Force has found cracks in a further three of its 30 F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets. The aircraft have been taken out of action.
US wants to buy ‘retired’ Swiss fighter jets for training purposes
This content was published on
The American navy is in talks with the Swiss army to purchase 22 decommissioned F5 Tiger fighter jets to help train its pilots in air warfare.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.