Switzerland shortlists SAMP/T, Barak MX for long-range air defense

PARIS — Switzerland narrowed down the choice of the country’s second future long-range air defense system to either Israel’s Barak MX system or the French-Italian SAMP/T NG, while also sticking to plans to buy the United States’ Patriot air-defense system.

The federal government asked the defense department to continue evaluating the Barak MX developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and the SAMP/T NG from the Eurosam joint venture between MBDA and Thales, it said on Wednesday. In addition to technical, military and weapon-related aspects, the choice takes into account foreign-policy and economic-policy considerations, the federal council said.

Switzerland said in May it would evaluate long-range air-defense systems from manufacturers in Germany, France, Israel and South Korea, with a preference for a system produced in Europe, after delivery of the Patriot system was delayed by several years.

“The Federal Council considers it necessary to strengthen the country’s air defense to address the deteriorating geopolitical situation,” the government said. “Long-range ground-to-air defense systems are indispensable for this purpose, with an adequate supply of ammunition.”

The long-range systems, combined with short-range and medium-range systems as well as fighter aircraft, will allow Switzerland to counter attacks from a distance, including ballistic missiles, the government said.

“It is important that Switzerland can quickly equip itself, in addition to the Patriot, with a second system that meets its needs in light of the threat, allows to expand the protected area, and reduces dependence on a single supplier or a single supply chain,” the council said.

The council said it considered bids from four manufacturers in France, Israel and South Korea.

While the U.S. is prioritizing Patriot delivery to countries that have supplied their own systems to Ukraine, abandoning the Patriot purchase without a replacement system is not an option in the current situation, according to the government. It said discussions with the U.S. on delivery of Patriot systems are continuing.

Parliament is scheduled to review a government proposal for an additional 24 billion Swiss francs (US$30 billion) in defense and security spending during its winter session, including 6 billion francs to finance the second long-range air-defense system and a portion of the additional costs for Patriot, the federal council said.

Once the evaluations are complete and parliament has decided on funding for the armed forces, which is expected in early 2027, the council will decide on additional appropriation for the Patriot system and the next steps for the second long-range air-defense system, it said.

Switzerland previously agreed to buy Diehl Defence’s IRIS-T SLM system for medium-range air defense and the Oerlikon Skynex short-range system from Rheinmetall.