According to AFP on June 24, the Swiss Defense Ministry stated, "We are starting contract negotiations with companies from France, Israel, and South Korea," adding that introducing a complementary air defense system would reduce reliance on specific suppliers.
The Swiss government ordered five Patriot systems from the United States in 2022, with plans for phased delivery from this year until 2028. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East have delayed the delivery schedule.
Switzerland has reported that the delivery of the Patriots could be delayed by up to seven years, with costs continuing to rise, prompting a review of the order's cancellation. Instead, the government has shifted its focus to acquiring alternative air defense systems and has received proposals from at least five companies.
Among these, the German company Diehl Defense has been eliminated from consideration, leaving candidates from France, Israel, and South Korea. However, the Swiss government has not disclosed which companies are currently under negotiation.
As a neutral country, Switzerland is accelerating its air defense expansion in response to the rapidly changing security environment in Europe since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in 2022. Current analyses suggest that only 8% of its airspace can be defended by existing air defense systems.
Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister remarked that with the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which began in late February, "Even if our country is not directly involved in the war, missiles could fall on us at any time," emphasizing that air defense is a crucial element in protecting the nation and its economy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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