The Swiss army will probably receive only 30 new F-35 fighter jets instead of 36. This is the government's current assumption. It is forgoing an additional CHF1 billion ($1.25 billion) loan and is only requesting a CHF394 million loan to cover additional costs due to inflation. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In December, Defence Minister Martin Pfister already indicated that Switzerland would not be able to purchase the originally planned number of 36 F-35 fighter jets from the manufacturer Lockheed Martin within the payment framework approved by the Swiss people in September 2020. The government confirmed this on Friday. "The government is renouncing the original number of 36 aircraft," it wrote in a statement. However, not buying any planes is not an option in view of the worsening security situation, it said. The government is therefore looking for a middle way "within the financial volume approved by the people". The maximum possible number of ...
