On May 13, 2026, the Federal Department of Defense announced that its five Patriot surface-to-air systems would cost up to 4.6 billion Swiss francs, double the initial price. Deliveries have been delayed by five to seven years, with no firm guarantee from Washington. Meanwhile, the F-35A, the second pillar of the Air2030 program, is facing cost overruns and a reduced order that voters did not approve. Switzerland is now caught in two contracts that it cannot fulfill as planned or cancel without assuming all costs alone.
The price of the five Patriot systems ordered from the United States under the Air2030 program has now reached “up to 4.6 billion Swiss francs,” compared to the initial 2.3 billion. A spokesperson had already indicated in February 2025 that the expected increase would exceed 50%.
The delays are due to conflicts in the Middle East and around 1,600 Patriot interceptor missiles being used, which has overwhelmed production capacities. Raytheon, the American manufacturer of the Patriot systems, mentioned an increased sense of urgency and high demand due to ongoing conflicts.
In contract situations like these, the buyer makes advance payments to a blocked account managed by the US government. Switzerland has paid between 650 and 750 million Swiss francs for the Patriot system but halted payments due to cost and schedule issues.
Switzerland is now exploring options from other countries such as France, Germany, Israel, and South Korea for possible alternative systems to the Patriot. The Swiss Parliament is expected to make a decision by the end of 2026.
In March 2026, Switzerland announced it would no longer order 36 F-35A aircraft but the maximum number possible within the authorized budget, approximately 30 aircraft. This change saved about 1.1 billion francs in additional credits, although negative consequences are expected in terms of defense capabilities.
An official federal investigation has been launched to examine the handling of the F-35A fixed price issue, while a popular initiative titled “No to F-35” is gaining support. The Swiss government faces a decision between sticking to the Patriot contract, renegotiating with legal commitments, or exploring European or Asian solutions for air defense.
