Switzerland in Talks with France, Israel, and South Korea for Air Defense System

SadaNews - Switzerland announced on Wednesday that it has begun negotiations with France, Israel, and South Korea in an effort to acquire a long-range air defense system, amid delays in the delivery of the U.S. Patriot missile system to Bern.

The announcement came after Bern confirmed in early March that it intends to purchase an additional long-range surface-to-air missile system, preferring one made in Europe to complement the Patriot system.

The Swiss Ministry of Defense stated that the government has "initiated contractual negotiations with French, Israeli, and South Korean companies to acquire an additional system that would enable a rapid enhancement of defenses against long-range attacks."

It added that "in light of the deteriorating security situation, Switzerland must be able to defend itself quickly."

The government also mentioned that "a second system will reduce dependence on a single supplier and a single supply chain."

Switzerland had requested five American-made "Patriot" systems in 2022, with scheduled deliveries between 2026 and 2028.

However, Bern suspended payments last year after being informed by the U.S. side about delays in the delivery process.

On Wednesday, the government confirmed that it decided to stick with the Patriot purchase deal and resume payments, despite its assessment that delivery may be delayed by four to five years.

It stated, "Given the security situation, the government cannot consider halting the purchase program without having an alternative system," adding that it would also be "difficult to assess the costs that could arise from halting the process."

It added that "payments for the Patriot system will be resumed to advance the project with the least possible delay and without high additional costs."

The Swiss government mentioned in March that the United States had surpassed the decision to freeze payments related to the "Patriot" system by using Swiss funds allocated for purchasing F-35A fighter jets.

It also announced at that time that it wishes to purchase only 30 F-35A aircraft instead of 36, after Washington raised the overall price due to inflation and rising costs of raw materials and energy.