Switzerland rushes nearly 500 million francs to the US in advance for F-35s to avert delivery disruption
The Swiss government has accelerated all 2026 payments for its future F-35A fleet, wiring almost half a billion francs to a pooled US armaments account ahead of schedule.
The early payment
In an interview with the NZZ am Sonntag, armasuisse director Urs Loher disclosed that Switzerland had brought forward all scheduled 2026 payments for the F-35A stealth fighter. The sum, described as "etwas weniger als 500 Millionen Franken" (just under CHF 500 million), has already been transferred to the United States.
The joint financing account
Swiss defence acquisitions in the US are handled through a single pooled account. It covers the 30 F-35As, the Patriot air-defence systems ordered in 2022, and spare parts for the existing F/A-18 fleet. Loher warned that allowing the account to run low could have triggered a halt in F/A-18 spares or jeopardised the F-35 programme. "Das Risiko war für uns zu gross" – the risk was too great, he said.
Patriot delays and reprioritisation
Switzerland has already paid nearly CHF 700 million for five Patriot batteries. Their delivery, originally expected to begin this year, has slipped by several years. Loher pointed out that the contractual framework allows the United States to reassign priorities in extraordinary situations, though Bern still expects Washington to honour the state treaty.
We have agreed delivery windows, that is correct. But we also agreed that the US can carry out a new prioritisation in the event of extraordinary circumstances.
Potential early windfall for training
Loher noted that Patriot batteries the US plans to deliver to Germany in 2027 or 2028 were originally meant for Switzerland but do not match the Bundeswehr's desired configuration. This could free up individual components such as launchers, radar units or the command post for Swiss use sooner than planned. "Wir nehmen alles, was wir kriegen können" – we take everything we can get, Loher added.
Delivery schedule
Assembly of the first Swiss F-35A began in May 2026. Deliveries of the 30 aircraft are spread between 2027 and 2030.
- Switzerland orders five Patriot air-defence batteries from the US.
- Assembly of the first Swiss F-35A begins.
- All 2026 F-35 payments (just under CHF 500 million) are transferred early to the joint US financing account.
- Patriot deliveries were due to start but have been delayed by several years.
- The 30 F-35A aircraft are scheduled for delivery.
- Patriot batteries originally for Switzerland may be sent to Germany; Swiss-configured components could be freed up for training.
