Switzerland gains US approval for Patriot air defence missile buy
Switzerland selected Patriot for the ground-based air defence element of its Air 2030 programme in July 2021. (Image: Raytheon)
The US State Department has approved the FMS to Switzerland of Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC) 3 Missile Segment Enhanced (MSE) missiles and related equipment with an estimated value of $700 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on 15 November
The Swiss FMS request covers up to 72 missiles alongside support and training equipment and spare parts. The US will also supply personnel for engineering, logistics, flight test and other support tasks. Lockheed Martin will be prime contractor.
A US DoD release said the proposed sale 'supports Switzerland’s goal of improving national and territorial defence as well as interoperability with US and NATO forces'.
The Swiss Federal Council announced its selection of Patriot alongside the F-35 fighter jet to meet the requirements of its Air 2030 programme last year, stating that the combination represented ‘the highest overall benefit at the lowest overall cost’.
The Patriot offer was proposed to Switzerland by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Rheinmetall Air Defence and Radar Systems, RUAG and Mercury Systems.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating
Drones and military ground vehicles are increasingly being designed to operate together as a single platform or even to convert crewed systems to automated ones.
-
Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system
The acquisition, which is part of the country’s broader defence package worth DKK58 billion (US$9.2 billion), goes against the grain with many other European countries opting for the US’s popular Patriot platform.
-
In depth: Competition for British Army vehicle programme heats up, despite more delays
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) seems set to be delayed once again but industry is jockeying for position to partner in what would be one of the biggest ever buys for the British Army.
-
DSEI 2025: AM General has partner lined up for British Army vehicle programme
AM General’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) A2 is in low-rate initial production and the company is looking for export orders, notably the UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP), to add to a recent approval for Canada to buy vehicles.
-
DSEI 2025: IDV sets eyes on British Army vehicle deal as MD calls for “acceleration” of efforts
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) to replace thousands of vehicles is in flux as the tender for the Light Mobility Vehicle segment planned for November is set to be missed. IDV Robotics’ Dr Geoff Davis is calling for the UK government to focus broadly on indigenous capability for procurement and to do it faster.