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.
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
This content was published on
Czech President Petr Pavel and his wife, Eva Pavlova, arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday at the start of a two-day state visit.
Study shows proliferation of non-native plants is driver of insect invasions
This content was published on
A global study has revealed that insect invasions are being driven by the proliferation of non-native plants. This can can massively disrupt ecological processes, often leading to serious economic impacts.
Swiss set record for world’s longest hyperloop test
This content was published on
Swiss scientists have established a record for the longest-ever hyperloop journey at a facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.
This content was published on
The Swiss army wants to purchase new German armoured howitzers to replace its existing artillery system which has been in operation for over 50 years.
Poll suggests Donald Trump has many fans in Switzerland
This content was published on
Around a quarter of Swiss citizens would vote for Donald Trump if they had the chance, according to a recent poll. This percentage is higher than in many other European countries.
Swiss court rejects special assistance for student with disabilities
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Court has rejected an application for special assistance from a student with disabilities at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich.
Police arrest 15 drug dealers in Verbier in southern Switzerland
This content was published on
Swiss and French police have arrested 15 suspected drug dealers operating in the mountain resort of Verbier in southern Switzerland.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
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.