Airbus launches counter-offensive on fighter jet contract
There are four firms in the running for the CHF6 billion fighter jet contract.
Keystone / Mindaugas Kulbis
Ahead of the Swiss government’s decision on a major fighter jet contract, Airbus has made an appeal to the Swiss government to choose a European firm after leaked information from the government revealed US firm Lockheed Martin was out ahead of competitors.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/Tages-Anzeiger/jdp
“It is important for us that all seven government ministers assess the overall package,” Bernhard Brenner, Sales Director at Airbus Defence and Space, told the German-language paper SonntagsZeitungExternal link.
He argued that the decision shouldn’t solely be based on military criteria. “The economic and political elements are just as important.”
The Airbus Eurofighter is one of four fighter jets in the running for a CHF6 billion contract. The others include the French Rafale from Dassault, Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, and Lockheed Martin’s F35-A.
On June 21, Swiss public television SRF reported that sources inside the government indicated that Lockheed Martin’s fighter jet was the favourite based on results of the evaluation. A source noted that cost was a factor, specifically that “Switzerland can buy a larger number of F-35s with the budgeted CHF6 billion than would be the case with the three competitors.”
Brenner added that Airbus is the only manufacturer that has offered to assemble its fighter jet in Switzerland if selected. “That generates a lot of jobs.” More than 200 Swiss companies are already suppliers to the group.
Political factors should also be considered, argued Brenner, stating that by choosing a European fighter jet, it would simplify dialogue with the European Union.
According to the SonntagsBlickExternal link paper, the Airbus dossier was accompanied by a letter from four European defense ministers addressed to Swiss Defence Minister Viola Amherd. According to the paper’s sources, the letter talks about cross-border partnerships in various areas including cyber security and infrastructure.
On September 27, Swiss voters narrowly approved a CHF6 billion funding packet that allows the armed forces to go ahead with the purchase of new fighter jets to replace its ageing fleet of F-5 Tigers and F/A-18 Hornet jets by 2030. New jets are to be delivered by 2025.
The Swiss government is expected to make its decision on the contract this week.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
How centuries of Swiss emigrants left their mark on the US
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
This content was published on
Swiss wheelchair racer Catherine Debrunner won the 5,000 metres to bring home Switzerland’s first gold medal at the Paralympics in Paris.
US approves sale of jets and missiles to Switzerland
This content was published on
The US State Department has given the green light for the potential sale of two types of fighter jets and missile systems to Switzerland.
This content was published on
By a margin of just 9,000 votes, Swiss citizens have given a cautious all-clear for a multi-billion purchase of new fighter jets for the air force.
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.