Switzerland expects to acquire 30 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, down from the original 36, due to escalating program costs exceeding the CHF 6 billion ($6.8 billion) budget approved by voters in a 2020 referendum.
On March 6, 2026, Defense Minister Martin Pfister announced the government is seeking parliamentary approval for an additional CHF 394 million ($505 million) credit to cover inflation, rising commodity prices, and other factors. This funding would enable the purchase of 30 aircraft, while the full 36 would require CHF 1.1 billion more, which the Federal Council rejected for fiscal reasons. The exact number awaits U.S. negotiations on production batch contracts.
Selected in 2021 over competitors like the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, the F-35A will replace aging F/A-18 Hornets and F-5 Tigers. Deliveries are scheduled from 2027 to 2030. The reduction may impact operational capability and sustainability, though cancellation was ruled out due to security needs.
Compounding challenges, U.S. delivery of five Patriot air defense systems faces a four-to-five-year delay to prioritize Ukraine support, incurring extra costs. The government is evaluating a second ground-based system, preferring a European option like the French SAMP/T, with a report due by summer 2027.
These adjustments highlight procurement pressures on smaller European nations amid high global demand for advanced defense systems.