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Swiss to Reduce F-35 Fighter Jet Order From US as Costs Rise

Following a cabinet meeting, Bern announced on Friday, Dec 12, 2025, that Switzerland will buy fewer Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35A Lightning II jets to stay within the 6 billion Swiss francs cap.
Facing rising energy and raw-material costs, Bern said additional expenses reached 1.3 billion Swiss francs, and the government said maintaining the originally planned number is not financially feasible under the referendum-approved price tie.
Defense Minister Martin Pfister said the cabinet concluded a larger fleet is needed, but a poll showed a majority of voters were willing to abandon the deal despite the popular vote approval tied to the original price estimate.
The cabinet will reassess whether further procurements are possible, and the Swiss government said any increase in aircraft numbers would be reviewed separately from aircraft type.
Amid tariff talks with Washington, Bern finalizes a deal reducing import tariffs to 15% from 39%, while last year’s decision raised defence spending to 1% of GDP.

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28 Articles

Switzerland cuts number of planned F-35 jets amid hike in procurement costs

Decision follows US cost hikes of up to $1.6B, making it impossible to buy all 36 jets within approved budget, government says - Anadolu Ajansı

22 hours ago·Ankara, Türkiye

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The Local - Ch

Lean Left

Cost overruns push Swiss to buy fewer F-35s

Switzerland will not be able to purchase all 36 American F-35 fighter jets in the near future as planned due to cost overruns announced by the United States, Bern said on Friday.

1 day ago·Switzerland

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Breaking Defense

Lean Right

Switzerland reduces F-35 buy after $610 million price hike

“Due to foreseeable additional costs, it is not financially viable to maintain the originally planned number” of aircraft, said a Swiss statement.

2 days ago

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n-tv.de

Lean Right

Because of "Appreciable Additional Costs": Switzerland Hits the Brake Strongly when Ordering F-35

Actually, Switzerland wants to buy 36 modern fighter jets from the USA for its own air force. However, in view of the additional costs, the order quantity is screwed down. Now only the "maximum possible number" for about six billion Swiss francs is to be purchased.

2 days ago

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SWI swissinfo.ch

Lean Left

Swiss to Buy Fewer US F-35s After $1.6 Billion Price Hike

(Bloomberg) -- Switzerland said it will buy fewer Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jets from the US than planned, in an attempt to keep procurement costs within the limit approved by voters.

2 days ago·Bern, Switzerland

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Digi 24

Center

Switzerland Is Too Poor to Buy All Us F-35 Contracts. “How Much Money Do We Have”

Switzerland will not be able to purchase all 36 U.S. warplanes, F-35, due to the additional costs presented by the United States, the federal authorities of Bern announced Friday, transmitted to the AFP.

2 days ago·Romania

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