Swiss to sign deal to buy F-35 fighters before referendum

The Swiss authorities is anticipated to signal a deal to purchase 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets.
Employees Sgt. Cameron Lewis/U.S. Air Nationwide Guard through AP

ZURICH — The Swiss authorities will signal a contract by the top of March to purchase 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, it mentioned on Might 18, 2022, urgent forward with out ready for a referendum on the $5.5 billion deal.

Switzerland selected the F-35 final yr as its next-generation fighter jet, angering opponents who mentioned they'd guarantee a referendum was held to overturn what they referred to as an pointless “Ferrari” choice.

The federal government mentioned it was unclear whether or not the acquisition might happen underneath the identical circumstances if the deal needed to be renegotiated as soon as the supply expires subsequent yr.

Many nations have stepped up spending on weapons methods, it mentioned, saying Finland had determined to purchase 64 F-35As, Germany needed to buy as much as 35 and Canada would purchase 88.

“In opposition to this background, the chance of a delay in supply has elevated considerably. Nonetheless, the plane have to be delivered as deliberate from 2027 to make sure that the inhabitants is protected against threats from the air after 2030,” it mentioned.