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)
Switzerland will acquire up to 72 Patriot missiles under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) transaction.
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
-
![US Army’s Precision Strike Missile moves into production phase after test successes]()
US Army’s Precision Strike Missile moves into production phase after test successes
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile system and is a planned replanned replacement for MGM-140 Army Tactical Missiles System (ATACMS). It is to be fired from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers.
-
![British Army considers purchasing the NEMO 120mm mortar turret for the Patria 6×6]()
British Army considers purchasing the NEMO 120mm mortar turret for the Patria 6×6
Babcock is offering the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) 6×6 for one of the elements of the UK Land Mobility Programme (LMP). It would be a replacement for some of the UK’s existing armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) fleets including the FV432 which is now some 70 years old.
-
![Australia invests $1.4 billion in additional AMRAAM buy]()
Australia invests $1.4 billion in additional AMRAAM buy
Some of the missiles ordered can be used on the F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and the F35-A Lightning.
-
![Armies turn to armour and self-defence as support vehicles near the frontline]()
Armies turn to armour and self-defence as support vehicles near the frontline
Combat losses of support and logistics vehicles in recent conflicts have highlighted the need for greater protection and even self-defence capabilities. What options are available to turn a basic truck into a survivor on the battlefield?
-
![German Army to receive third-generation Dingo protected patrol vehicles this year]()
German Army to receive third-generation Dingo protected patrol vehicles this year
More than 1,200 Dingo 1 and Dingo 2 models have been built and deployed by some 10 countries. The latest Dingo 3 pulls through from user inputs and, like earlier versions, is also based on a UNIMOG chassis.
