Switzerland has approached manufacturers from four countries to inquire about air defense systems it is considering procuring amid delays in the delivery of the Patriot system.
Five manufacturers have been contacted from Germany, France, Israel, and South Korea, Swiss media outlets reported, citing the spokesperson of the country’s arms procurement agency, Kaj-Gunnar Sievert.
“Key priorities are delivery times, costs, performance, and the share of production in Europe, ideally in Switzerland,” Zone Militaire quoted Sievert as saying.
The Swiss defense procurement agency plans to begin reviewing the responses once they are received by the end of May.
“However, these responses will not yet constitute an offer. Therefore, the Federal Council will not decide on the type of system at this stage,” Sievert added.
Another Chance for SAMP/T
The identities of the manufacturers have not been disclosed. However, one of them is likely the Franco-Italian consortium Eurosam, which produces the SAMP/T air and missile defense system.
Switzerland had selected the Patriot system over SAMP/T in 2021, making the European system a strong contender should an alternative or complementary system now be considered.
Earlier, in February, the Thales-MBDA consortium reportedly assured Bern that it would deliver the system by 2029, roughly aligning with the original timeline for the Patriot systems.
Additional Candidates
In addition, Germany’s Diehl Defence and South Korea’s Hanwha are likely among those contacted, producing the IRIS-T and Cheongung II systems, respectively.
From Israel, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries are likely candidates. The former co-developed David’s Sling with Raytheon, while the latter developed the Arrow family of air and missile defense systems with Boeing.
Switzerland has already paid around 700 million Swiss francs ($905 million) as a down payment for five Patriot units. However, due to the exigencies of the Ukraine war, the systems have been delayed by four to five years.
