Switzerland is reconsidering its air defense plans after the US indefinitely delayed the delivery of Patriot missile batteries, prompting Bern to look more seriously at a European alternative.
Washington has postponed the handover of five Patriot air and missile defense units to Switzerland as it prioritizes deliveries to Ukraine.
The delay has revived interest in the Medium Range/Land-based Surface-to-Air Defence System, better known as SAMP/T, developed by a Franco-Italian consortium, according to a report by Swissinfo.
Swiss newspaper NZZ am Sonntag reported that manufacturers of the SAMP/T have assured Bern that, if an order were placed now, the system could be delivered by 2029.
That timeline compares favorably with the uncertain arrival of the Patriot, which Switzerland agreed to buy several years ago as part of a broader air defense modernization effort.
Switzerland has already paid around 700 million Swiss francs ($905 million) as a down payment on the Patriot deal.
Swiss People’s Party politician Mauro Tuena told Swissinfo that withdrawing from the contract could trigger penalties or require adjustments to other US defense purchases, including the F-35 fighter program.
Defense Deputy Secretary General Robert Scheidegger said the issue will be discussed at the Federal Council level, with a clearer direction expected in the coming weeks once Washington clarifies whether Patriot systems can still be delivered by 2030 and at what cost.
SAMP/T in Europe
The SAMP/T is one of Europe’s few systems capable of countering aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missile threats.
Developed by a consortium led by Thales and MBDA, the system is already in service with several European militaries.
In 2023, Italy delivered the SAMP/T to Ukraine to strengthen Kyiv’s air defense against missile and drone attacks, marking the system’s first operational deployment in an active conflict.
More recently, in 2024, Italy approved funding to upgrade its existing SAMP/T units to the enhanced SAMP/T NG configuration, which features improved radar performance and expanded missile engagement capabilities.
France, for its part, has continued deliveries of modernized SAMP/T components to its air force as part of a broader effort to reinforce national and NATO air defense coverage.
In September 2025, Denmark announced plans to purchase eight European-made air defense systems, including two SAMP/T batteries.
It said it chose the Franco-Italian system for its long-range layer in part because European solutions promise faster delivery timelines than the US Patriot system.
