Dates for Swiss fighter trials announced

Switzerland has tried twice before to initiate a programme to replace its F/A-18 Hornet fighters, but on each occasion a national referendum has vetoed the acquisition on the grounds of cost.

Armasuisse announced the dates for the evaluations of the five candidates for the latest round of trials in the fighter replacement programme in February. Each of the five jets will undergo two weeks of flight tests and other examinations at Payerne Air Base between April and July.

First up, in calendar weeks 15 to 16, is Airbus with its Eurofighter, Boeing and its F/A-18E is next during weeks 17 and 18. Then comes Dassault in weeks 20 to 21 with the Rafale (the winner of the last competition). Lockheed Martin with the F-35A will visit for weeks 23 to 24 and finally Saab will take its Gripen E (the winner of the first competition) between weeks 24 and 25. The placing of each aircraft in the schedule has been determined by the alphabetical position of the manufacturer in the list of contenders.

Each candidate will be permitted to make a familiarization flight before performing a total of eight missions, one in darkness, using one or two aircraft during four days of flight operations.

Upon completion of the tests a second and final request for proposals will be issued to the manufacturers who will then be required to make their best and final offers in the spring of 2020. The government is expected to announce its choice in the second half of 2020, for consideration by parliament as part of the annual armaments programme for 2022. Deliveries must begin in 2025 and be completed by 2030.

Under the Air2030 programme, Switzerland has earmarked CHF 8 billion to pay for the replacement of its entire air defence system, including its ground-based missiles, F/A-18 Hornets and F-5E Tiger IIs, by 2030. The Schweizer Luftwaffe has a requirement for between 30 and 40 jets to be based at Payerne and Meiringen Air Bases.