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The Swiss government said Wednesday it will not abandon its purchase of US Patriot missile systems, even as delivery delays stretch for years, and that it is weighing European and Israeli air defense systems as a second option.
In a statement, the government said giving up on the Patriot without a replacement “is not an option in the current situation.” It said it was important for the country to “quickly acquire a second system” to cover its needs.
Switzerland, which is militarily neutral, ordered five Patriot ground-to-air missile systems in 2022. They were due to be delivered between 2026 and 2028.
US authorities have since delayed the shipments, as resources have been reallocated because of the war in Ukraine and, more recently, the US-Israeli war with Iran. Switzerland has said the delay could last between five and seven years.
The government said it is now looking at two alternatives. One is the SAMP/T NG, made by a joint venture between French firm Thales and the MBDA European arms consortium. The other is the Barak MX, made by Israel Aerospace Industries. A South Korean system has been rejected.
The government said the additional system should meet the country’s needs “in light of the threat,” allow the protected area to be expanded and reduce “dependence on a single supplier or a single supply chain.”
It also said that “aspects relevant to foreign policy and economic policy” would be weighed alongside technical and military considerations in making its choice.
The move comes as international tensions rise. The government has said it will spend more than 70 billion Swiss francs ($85 billion) through 2039 to reinforce its defenses.
The Patriot is a long-established US-made air defense system, produced by Raytheon, and is designed to intercept aircraft and missiles.
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