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B/L 84 Rapier

The Rapier is a towed and mobile guided anti-aircraft defense system that can be used to combat aerial targets day and night as well as in bad weather up to an average altitude. It is distinguished by a short reaction time, high accuracy of fire and considerable destructive power.

The RAPIER is a towed and mobile guided anti-aircraft defense system that can be used to combat aerial targets day and night as well as in bad weather and up to medium altitude. It is distinguished by a short reaction time, high shooting accuracy and considerable destructive power.

The Rapier weapon system consists of the following main components:

• Missile launcher with search radar (under radome), electronic friend-foe identification device, guidance transmitter, digital computer and two arms for launching guided missiles
• Tracking radar (target telemetry and guided craft)
• Control unit (direction of lights)
• Scoring device (optical goal tracking)
• Generator
• Guided combat vehicles

The ground-based anti-aircraft defense of the Swiss Army consisted of the light anti-aircraft guided missile systems "Stinger", the mobile anti-aircraft guided missile system "Rapier" and the medium anti-aircraft gun system "35-mm M Flab". The BODLUV 2020 project is intended to replace these aging anti-aircraft systems of the Swiss Army.

Army Report 2010 confirmed that "the surface-to-air defense system is not capable of combating aircraft or long-range missiles (cruise missiles or other missiles) at high altitudes and distances". He also specifies that "the ground-to-air defense system must begin by acquiring the capabilities required to combat aircraft at high altitudes and distances" and that "otherwise, Switzerland would need advance warning data from abroad for the missile defence."

The Federal Council writes, on the other hand, in the Report on the army, that "With the 33 F/A-18C/D ... the means are sufficient to ensure the air police service with our own combat planes and our own resources."

To renew the Swiss Army's anti-aircraft defense systems, the Surface-to-Air Defense 2020 (DSA 2020) project was launched in November 2013; it must ensure the replacement of the current defense systems against aircraft (Rapier, 35 mm anti-aircraft gun, Stinger). DSA 2020 is used to protect sectors, objects and formations, and must, in addition to being able to shoot down aircraft of all kinds, be able to destroy air-to-ground guided missiles, cruise missiles and ammunition for curved trajectory shots. As part of the EEP 2013 (credits for project studies, tests and preparations for purchases), 18 million francs were granted for preparations for purchases.

BODLUV 2020 (BODengestützte-LUft-Verteidigung 2020) consists of a short-range system and a medium-range (MR) system. BODLUV 2020 also creates the prerequisite for integrated air defense. The preliminary evaluation BODLUV 2020 was completed at the end of 2014. After evaluating the basics, the concepts and the discussions held, a reduced list of candidates for a medium-range system consisting of the companies Diehl BGT Defense GmbH & CO, Germany, MBDA UK Ltd, Great Britain, and Rafael Advance Defense Systems Ltd, Israel.

Two long-range surface-to-air defense systems were still in the running for the renewal of the defense of the Swiss army. The French consortium Eurosam and the American company Raytheon submitted their offers. Israel gave up. The submission of this first offer marked the start of the analysis and testing phase. A second call for tenders will take place in the course of next winter. Specialists from the Federal Department of Defense will analyze the manufacturers' offers by evaluating the effectiveness of the various systems and testing the performance of the radar. No shooting test will be carried out. These analyzes will give rise to individual reports. Candidates will only be compared afterwards. A second call for tenders followed. The Federal Council would decide.