Switzerland to Reduce F-35A Fighter Jet Order From 36 After Costs Exceed Budget Cap

Switzerland said on Friday it would reduce the number of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets it plans to buy from the United States after updated cost estimates showed the order would exceed the original budget framework, forcing the government to scale back the purchase.

The decision follows a reassessment of the programme’s total cost, which Swiss authorities said had risen beyond the 6 billion Swiss francs ($7.54 billion) limit approved by voters, making the originally planned order financially unviable.

Fixed-Price Assumption Questioned

Switzerland selected the F-35A as its next-generation fighter aircraft in 2021, announcing at the time that it would acquire 36 jets for a fixed price of 6 billion Swiss francs. That figure was central to the political acceptance of the deal and was repeatedly cited by the government as evidence of cost certainty.

However, U.S. authorities later clarified that the 6 billion franc figure was based on a misunderstanding, with additional costs emerging once contractual and technical details were examined more closely. These included foreseeable cost overruns linked to equipment, support elements and broader programme-related expenses.

Cabinet Orders Scaled-Back Procurement

Following a cabinet meeting, the Swiss government said it had instructed the defence ministry to procure the highest possible number of F-35A jets within the 6 billion franc ceiling, rather than exceed the amount approved by the public in a narrow 2020 referendum.

“Due to foreseeable cost overruns, maintaining the originally planned number of 36 F-35As is not financially feasible,” the government said in an official statement.

The cabinet did not specify how many aircraft would ultimately be purchased under the revised plan.

Option Left Open For Future Increase

Despite the cutback, the government stressed that the decision does not permanently rule out reaching the original target. It said that, pending further examination of Switzerland’s defence needs, the cabinet could later take steps that would potentially enable the country to acquire the full 36 jets.

Any such move would likely require additional political and financial decisions, given the sensitivity surrounding the referendum-approved spending limit.

Defence Commitment Despite Trade tensions

The announcement comes after Switzerland earlier reaffirmed its commitment to the F-35A programme, even after the United States imposed 39% tariffs on Swiss exports this summer. Following negotiations, Swiss officials said on Wednesday that those tariffs had since been reduced to 15% under a recent agreement.

Swiss authorities underlined that the fighter jet decision was budget-driven and unrelated to trade disputes, and that defence cooperation with the United States remains intact.

Broader Air Defence Modernisation

The government also said that changes in the security environment have prompted a wider review of Switzerland’s air defence strategy. Under existing defence planning, the country is expected to require between 55 and 70 modern fighter jets in the long term.

Any potential increase beyond the current F-35A purchase, the government said, would be reviewed separately and independently of the aircraft type, leaving open the possibility of additional procurement decisions in the future.

Balancing Security And Fiscal Discipline

The revised F-35A plan highlights the challenge Switzerland faces in modernising its armed forces while adhering strictly to voter-imposed spending limits. With defence needs evolving and costs rising, the future size and composition of the Swiss air force is likely to remain a closely watched and politically sensitive issue in the months ahead.