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Air2030: Current challenges and future steps

Swiss Government

Press release
Published on 30 June 2025

Bern, 25.06.2025 -- Over recent months, a number of challenges have arisen in the Air2030 programme to renew funding for air space protection. The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) today updated the Federal Council on the current status of the procurement process for the new fighter aircraft F-35A. The Federal Council is supporting the DDPS in the next stages of the procurement procedure and in the diplomatic talks on the fixed price. It still considers this price to be valid. The Federal Council remains committed to procuring the F-35A.

Under the Air2030 programme, the Federal Council is procuring 36 new type F-35A fighter aircraft and five Patriot systems for longer-range ground-based air defence, as well as upgrading air space surveillance and operations management. For a variety of reasons, challenges have arisen in specific areas of the programme over recent months.

F-35A: Switzerland agreed a fixed price with the United States

Switzerland contractually agreed a fixed price with the United States for the procurement of the F-35A fighter aircraft. This price has been officially confirmed by expert opinions from various law firms and by the US Embassy in Bern.

In August 2024, the Joint Program Office (JPO), which is responsible for all F-35 projects, indicated to armasuisse that the costs could rise, but did not provide any further details. At the end of February 2025, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) informed Switzerland in writing that it believed the fixed price to be a misunderstanding, although it did not specify how much the additional costs would be. Federal Councillor Viola Amherd, head of the DDPS at the time, informed the Federal Council of this communication at the start of March. In mid-June, the United States reaffirmed the DSCA's view to DDPS representatives and specified the amount for the first time.

The Federal Council still considers the fixed price to be valid. The DSCA believes that Switzerland should bear the additional costs caused by high inflation in the United States in recent years and the sharp rise in raw material and energy prices following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Switzerland is procuring the F-35A via the United States' Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. As this programme precludes dispute resolution, a diplomatic solution must be sought. The Federal Council has decided to continue the diplomatic talks and directed the DDPS to present it with a proposal for a concrete approach to the fixed price.

The Federal Council remains committed to procuring the F-35A

Terminating the contract with the US government would have significant consequences. From 2032 onwards, Switzerland would no longer be able to guarantee the security of its air space and population, as the current F/A-18 fighter aircraft will reach the end of their service life.

Real estate: Rising construction costs and market price trends

To accommodate the F-35A, new hangars and spaces for simulators and ICT infrastructure must be built at the military airfields in Payerne, Emmen and Meiringen. Due to rising construction costs, market price trends and increased security requirements, the loan of CHF 120 million approved in the Armed Forces Dispatch for 2022 will be exceeded by a maximum of CHF 60 million.

The DDPS also updated the Federal Council on the following topics:

RIGI project: Review of cost-benefit ratio

In order for technology and knowledge to be transferred to RUAG, the material competence centre for the F-35A, part of the final assembly of four aircraft will take place in Switzerland under an offset agreement (RIGI project). RUAG is currently reviewing how the project can be carried out with an acceptable cost-benefit ratio.

Air space surveillance: Negotiations with SkyView 4.0 provider

To upgrade air space surveillance and operations management, a contract was signed with Thales France LAS in 2021 to acquire the solution SkyView 4.0, although the software was still in the development phase. The system will be operated on the Swiss Armed Forces' new digitalisation platform (NDP). At the start of the project, however, both the scale and the complexity of the rollout were significantly underestimated. As such, a range of rollout options had to be developed in collaboration with the providers by the end of 2024. Due to these new circumstances, existing contractual agreements have to be modified. Disagreements have arisen regarding the contractual value; a final round of negotiations will be held soon. Initial software tests on the NDP were positive, and further tests are planned for autumn. From 2026, the project will also have to fulfil new regulatory requirements for flight safety, which requires additional clarification.

Longer-range ground-based air defence: New configuration

The United States will in future use a new configuration of the Patriot system, which will include a new control system and, at some point in the 2030s, a new radar system. Countries such as Switzerland, which will still use the existing system, will share the costs of further development. Investigations are currently under way to determine exactly what this would mean for Switzerland. The DDPS is also discussing this matter with other Patriot users.

Information security: Dialogue with the United States

The United States requires the ability to review and approve IT systems in all countries operating its weapons systems. The aim is to ensure that all networks and data flows meet US security requirements. These issues are being discussed in a joint working group with the United States.