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Rapier

The Swiss army has begun dismantling 60 serviceable British Rapier anti-aircraft missile systems that could be supplied to Ukraine, the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper reported 12 March 2023. “The missiles, although old, are not yet obsolete. They could be used very effectively against low-flying targets such as drones,” said Peter Schneider, former editor-in-chief of the Allgemeine Schweizerische Militaerzeitschrift (ASMZ).

The Swiss government will not change its long-standing policy prohibiting the transfer of Swiss-made weapons to third countries, in particular to Ukraine. On 08 March 2023, the lower house of the Swiss parliament confirmed that the transfer of Swiss tank ammunition to Ukraine at the request of Berlin should remain banned.

The representative of the Federal Office for Defense Procurement of Switzerland, Kai-Gunnar Sievert, in turn, said that the first batch of missile systems had already been dismantled, followed by three more. “It is intended that the systems will all be dismantled and disposed of in these other tranches,” says Armasuisse spokesman Kaj-Gunnar Sievert.

Switzerland purchased the Rapier air defense system in the 1980s. In 2017, they were modernized, but Bern decided to write them off anyway. A unit includes a launch pad and a radar system. In 2007, the federal government once again put a lot of money into modernization: At that time, the army bought 2,000 modern guided missiles. These are now being disposed of as well. The decommissioning of weapons began at the end of 2022.

It is noted that, according to the decision of the Swiss authorities of 2006, foreign systems that are not in service should first of all be sold to the country of origin, in the case of Rapier - Great Britain. After the sale of the system, it could be transferred to Ukraine. Nevertheless, Byrne said he intends to adhere to the practice of banning the re-export of weapons to countries involved in armed conflicts.

"The rockets are old, but they're not completely outdated either," says Peter Schneider, former editor-in-chief of the "Allgemeine Schweizerische Militaerzeitschrift" (ASMZ). This is how the English protected the London 2012 Olympics with a rapier. "These could be used very well against low-flying targets such as drones," says the military expert. Fighter jets or helicopters could also be fought with Rapier. From Schneider's point of view, Ukraine could protect civilian infrastructure in this way.

The scrapping triggers violent reactions among security politicians. "It's absurd that we are scrapping defensive weapons in Switzerland," says the Green Liberal National Councilor François Pointet. He supports a transfer to Ukraine. As the Vice President of the Security Policy Commission emphasizes, that would be legally possible.

Rapier is a British manufactured system. That is why completely different rules apply to the rockets than to Swiss weapons. According to the Federal Council decision of 2006, foreign systems that have been taken out of service should be sold back to the country of manufacture as a top priority. And as the Federal Council expressly emphasizes in its decision: "Without conditions". Switzerland does not have to demand a re-export ban.

This special regime for decommissioned foreign arms applied to the sale of Leopard tanks to Germany. In 2010, Switzerland sold back more than 40 Leopards without any conditions. As research by Radio SRF showed, some of these tanks were passed on to other NATO countries by Germany last summer.

"Theoretically, the resale of the rapiers without conditions would also be legally possible," confirms SVP National Councilor Mauro Tuena. Nevertheless, it would be wrong for the President of the Security Policy Commission to return the weapons to the British without conditions. "In terms of neutrality policy, such a sale would be difficult at this point in time," he says.

The fact is: Bern has not received a corresponding request from London. The federal government decided to scrap it in 2019 and never asked whether England was interested - not even after the outbreak of war, as Armasuisse confirms. "It is not usual for Switzerland to actively offer decommissioned military systems for sale," says Armasuisse spokesman Kaj-Gunnar Sievert.

"Switzerland should have asked at least Great Britain whether these weapons are still in demand," says SP National Councilor Franziska Roth. "I'm amazed that you didn't look across the border." FDP National Councilor Maja Riniker is also upset by the lack of information: "In the interests of transparency, information from the manufacturer would certainly have been appropriate," she says. “How should the British know what Switzerland is planning to decommission in the next few years?”

Great Britain phased out its Rapiers in 2021. As the British Ministry of Defense writes on request, the English disposed of all missiles before the outbreak of war. The scrapping later caused criticism on the island. The tenor was that the weapons would have helped Ukraine.