Switzerland’s National Council voted to allocate an extra 400 million Swiss francs (CHF) to the long‑running F‑35 fighter jet programme, raising the total public commitment well beyond the original 6 billion‑franc budget approved by voters in 2024. The supplemental credit, passed in the autumn parliamentary session, was described by 20 Minuten as a “supplementary loan” needed to keep the procurement on track.
Parliamentary approval amid mounting expenses
The lower house’s decision, reported by SRF, comes despite what officials have termed a “fixed‑price fiasco.” While the government originally presented the purchase as a fixed‑price contract, 19FortyFive notes that the clause was never incorporated into the final agreement with Lockheed Martin. The additional funding is intended to cover the shortfall that emerged after the original price guarantee proved untenable.
Political backlash and cost overruns
Critics on both the left and right have seized on the discrepancy, arguing that the programme now threatens to exceed the national budget by a significant margin. According to 19FortyFive, Swiss voters had approved the purchase of 36 F‑35A jets for a total of CHF 6 billion. The new calculations suggest the government will pay an additional CHF 394 million and will receive only 30 aircraft, a reduction that was not part of the public referendum.
"Switzerland is now paying CHF 394 million more and will receive 30 jets instead of the 36 approved by voters," 19FortyFive reported.
Opposition parties have framed the development as a breach of public trust, emphasizing that the promised “fixed price” was a key selling point during the 2024 referendum campaign. The government, however, maintains that the procurement remains essential for maintaining air‑defence capabilities in a changing security environment.
Implications for Swiss defence and sovereignty
Defence officials argue that the F‑35A is the only aircraft capable of meeting Switzerland’s high‑altitude, mountainous terrain requirements while integrating with NATO‑standard systems. The additional funding is presented as a pragmatic step to avoid further delays that could leave the Swiss Air Force without a modern replacement for its aging fleet of fighter jets.
Nevertheless, the controversy underscores a broader debate about Switzerland’s defence spending and the transparency of large procurement projects. The extra 400 million‑franc allocation has become the nation’s top domestic story, with public opinion polls indicating growing scepticism toward costly defence contracts.
As the parliamentary session moves toward its conclusion, the National Council’s endorsement of the supplemental budget signals that, for now, the government’s F‑35 strategy will proceed despite the financial and political challenges. The final outcome will likely shape the next round of discussions on military procurement, fiscal responsibility, and the role of direct democracy in Swiss defence policy.
