Switzerland Cuts F-35 Order and Seeks European Air Defense

The Federal Council of Switzerland announced on March 6, 2026, that it will reduce its order of Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets from 36 to approximately 30 aircraft. This reduction follows a pricing dispute with the United States, where inflation and raw material costs created a 1.1 billion Swiss franc gap beyond the 6 billion franc budget approved by voters in a 2020 referendum. To maintain the revised fleet of 30 jets, the government is requesting an additional 394 million CHF from parliament.

Simultaneously, Switzerland is revising its ground-based defense strategy after the United States delayed the delivery of five Patriot air-defense batteries by four to five years. These units were reprioritized to support Ukraine and address missile threats in the Middle East. In response, Defense Minister Martin Pfister is exploring the acquisition of a second long-range system, specifically the European-made SAMP/T produced by Eurosam.

To fund these enhancements and a broader 31 billion Swiss franc defense plan, the Swiss government proposes a temporary 0.8 percentage point VAT increase for 10 years. This proposal will be subject to a referendum planned for mid-2027.