Last month, President Donald Trump announced that a 39 percent tariff would be imposed on Switzerland, which resulted in calls among the country’s lawmakers to cancel the purchase entirely.
Although some Swiss government officials would like to see Bern bail out entirely on its planned acquisition of the American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the deal looks to be going forward. However, the number of aircraft that the Swiss military obtains could be fewer than the initial order of 36 warplanes made in 2021. Although it was the Trump administration’s tariffs that had been cited as part of the sudden opposition to the fifth-generation multirole stealth aircraft, it was announced on Wednesday that there remain significant concerns over the F-35’s cost.
“In recent weeks, intensive discussions have been held with senior White House representatives regarding a fixed price for the procurement of the new F-35A fighter aircraft,” the Swiss Federal Council explained in a statement to the media. “The price issue was also addressed during a telephone conversation between US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Defence Minister Martin Pfister.”
Switzerland has accused the United States of not being “prepared to deviate from its position,” even as it claims that it is “not possible to assert a fixed price” for the aircraft. Moreover, the Swiss officials have expressed frustration that outside factors, including inflation in the United States and “commodity prices on the global markets,” will result in price increases. Both could be driven by the tariffs that the United States is imposing on other countries, the officials added.
To Be Clear, Bern Is Not Canceling Its F-35 Order
Despite the aforementioned concerns, the Swiss Federal Council reaffirmed that it is “committed to procuring the F-35A,” the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant. That was expressed as it touted the capabilities of the Lightning II and its ability to protect the historically neutral Alpine nation from “airborne threats,” while praise was lauded on the F-35’s “significant technological advantage over other aircraft… now in widespread use across Europe.”
The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), the organization responsible for the security of the nation and its people, has been instructed to work with the United States on a path forward.
Among the options now on the table are a reexamination of the nation’s air defense requirements and how the multirole aircraft will fit into current plans. That could include determining if Switzerland could make do with fewer F-35s, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Lockheed Martin did not comment directly on the matter and instead directed questions to the State Department.
“Since foreign military sales are government-to-government transactions, questions about F-35 cost, schedule, and procurement are best addressed by the armasuisse and U.S. government,” the aerospace giant said in a statement.
Neither the Pentagon nor the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) had offered any commentary on the matter either.
Last month, President Donald Trump announced that a 39 percent tariff would be imposed on Switzerland, which resulted in calls among the country’s lawmakers to cancel the purchase entirely. Bern has yet to receive any of its aircraft now on order, and current plans call for deliveries to begin in 2027. The final size of the order will determine its completion.
The UAE Could Opt for the South Korean KF-21 Boramae
Switzerland is not the only European country to rethink its acquisition of the F-35 Lightning II, as Spain announced last week that it would look to other options, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, while waiting for the sixth-generation Future Combat Air System (FCAS) to enter service by 2040.
Now, another US ally is also moving past efforts to acquire the F-35. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which had attempted to acquire the F-35 Lightning II during Trump’s first term, has reportedly expressed interest in the South Korean KF-21 Boramae. The South Korean fighter lacks the same level of stealth and fifth-generation networking capabilities. However, the purchase is not likely to receive the same level of protests from Israel, which seeks to maintain a quantitative military edge over its neighbors.
In addition, South Korea could deliver the KF-21 far sooner than the UAE can expect to receive any F-35s, even if US lawmakers approve a deal.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
