Parliamentary Debate
¶ New: National Council Control Committee report of 8 September 2026 on the F-35 fixed price
The National Council Control Committee (GPK-N) has completed its investigation into the F-35A fixed price. It concludes that no flat fixed price was agreed with the United States. It criticises the DDPS's communication, the organisation of the negotiations and the late notification of the Federal Council as a whole. This is a GPK-N report, not a report by a Parliamentary Investigation Committee (PUK). Official announcement, in German.
For future major procurements, the committee calls in particular for a clear negotiating mandate and consistent involvement of armasuisse's legal service. The Federal Council is invited to respond by 11 December 2026. Official announcement, in German.
Original sources: Announcement of 8 September 2026, in German · Full GPK-N report, in German.
This addition covers the new report; earlier sections retain their stated reference dates.
¶ Political decisions: as of 6 September 2026
New political decisions checked on 6 September 2026; earlier background retains its stated reference date.
06.05.2026 — The Federal Council’s response on the price comparison with Poland has been available since 6 May 2026. It points to different procurement packages: the Swiss price includes armament, training, logistics and integration. Comparisons of isolated unit prices need this context. Original source.
16.06.2026 — The Council of States approved the Armed Forces Dispatch 2026, including an additional CHF 394 million for an expected 30 F-35As. This chamber’s decision is distinct from the subsequent National Council committee recommendation and completion of parliamentary proceedings. Original source.
11.08.2026 — The National Council Security Policy Committee proposes an additional CHF 500 million for ground-based air-defence ammunition and indirect fire support (11–9, four abstentions). This is not an F-35 armament credit. It separately supports the CHF 394 million F-35 credit. Original source.
Further reading: Patriot / Air2030 · Drohnen / Drones
¶ Parliamentary Debate and Popular Vote
¶ Popular Vote of 27 September 2020
The popular initiative against the combat aircraft funding was approved on 27 September 2020 with 50.1% Yes -- the narrowest result of a federal vote in decades. The margin was approximately 8,700 votes [92]. The vote concerned a planning decision for the procurement of new combat aircraft up to a maximum of CHF 6 billion -- not a specific aircraft type.
¶ Political Process
¶ Control Committee (GPK)
The Control Committees of both chambers scrutinised the pricing and evaluation process in detail. Key points:
- Demand for access to contract details (partly classified as confidential)
- Investigation of the fixed-price question in the FMS context
- Regular reporting by the DDPS requested [93]
¶ The Fixed-Price Saga
The question of whether the Bundesrat negotiated a fixed price for the F-35A became one of the central political controversies of the procurement.
| Aspect | Bundesrat Position | Opposition Criticism |
|---|---|---|
| Price commitment | "Binding maximum price" of CHF 6.035 billion | Not a true fixed price, but a cost ceiling |
| Contract type | FMS with price cap | FMS system fundamentally allows additional claims |
| Exchange rate | Rate frozen at the time of the offer | Dollar fluctuation risk not eliminated |
| Inflation | Inflation factored into the price | US inflation could exceed the framework |
Chronology of the debate:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 2021 | Bundesrat announces type selection with "fixed price" of CHF 6.035 billion |
| Autumn 2021 | Media investigations question the fixed-price concept in the FMS context |
| 2022 | Bundesratlor Amherd clarifies: "price ceiling" rather than a classic fixed price |
| 2022 | Control Committee demands access to contract details |
| 2022--2023 | SFAO examines contract clauses and pricing mechanisms |
| 2023 | Parliamentary motions on cost transparency |
| 2023--2024 | Lockheed Martin confirms price commitment within the agreed framework |
¶ Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO)
The SFAO, as an independent supervisory body, has produced several audit reports on the F-35 procurement:
- Evaluation process audit: Methodology assessed as correct and transparent [91]
- Cost analysis: Highlighted uncertainties in life-cycle costs, particularly operating costs per flight hour
- FMS procedure: Recommendation to closely monitor the government-to-government procurement model
- Offset oversight: Demand for transparent and auditable processing of offset transactions
¶ Finance Delegation (FinDel)
| Period | Position |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Approval of the commitment credit of CHF 6 billion as an upper limit |
| 2021 | Acknowledgement of the type selection; demand for regular reporting |
| 2022 | Review of the procurement contract; note on exchange rate hedging |
| 2023 | Monitoring of payment flows and offset progress |
| 2024 | Reporting on cost stability and delivery schedule compliance |
¶ References
[91] SFAO: Risk Management Air2030 -- armasuisse (EFK-21410)
[92] GPK-N: Report on the Evaluation Process for the New Combat Aircraft (PDF, 9.9.2022)
[93] GPK-N: Media Release -- Evaluation Process Lawful (9.9.2022)
¶ 1. Parliamentary Debates and Motions
¶ 1.1 Planning Resolution and Popular Vote (2019-2020)
On 27 September 2020, the Swiss electorate approved the planning resolution for the procurement of new combat aircraft with 50.1% yes votes -- the narrowest result in the history of Swiss security policy (Federal Chancellery, Popular Vote 27.09.2020). The electorate voted on a financial framework of a maximum of 6 billion francs, not on a specific aircraft type (Parliament: Business 19.039).
¶ 1.2 Interpellations and Warnings (2021)
The parliamentary opposition formulated precise warnings about the risks of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procedure as early as 2021:
Interpellation 21.4116 -- Fixed Price or Target Prices? Nationalratlor Franziska Roth (SP/SO) asked whether the US government could only agree on "best possible estimated target prices." The Bundesrat's response is to be assessed as politically fateful from the perspective of 2025: "Inflation (price increases) is factored into the fixed price." This statement suggested absolute price certainty, which does not factually exist in the FMS system (Parliament: Interpellation 21.4116).
Interpellation 21.3148 -- ITAR Dependency: Priska Seiler Graf (SP/ZH) described the F-35 as a "flying computer" embedded in a US structure (Parliament: Interpellation 21.3148).
Interpellation 21.4546 -- Pilot Training: Roth addressed the hidden operating costs and the dependency on US training facilities (Parliament: Interpellation 21.4546).
Question 22.7482 -- Kerosene Costs: Roth criticized the army dispatch, which calculated with 1.32 francs per liter of kerosene -- "sensationally low" and unrealistic (Parliament: Question 22.7482).
¶ 1.3 Army Dispatch 2022 and Council Debates
The Army Dispatch 2022 contained the commitment credit of CHF 6.035 billion for 36 F-35A as well as CHF 1.987 billion for the Patriot system (Parliament: Business 22.005).
Ständerat Debate (2 June 2022): Josef Dittli (FDP/UR) coined the dictum: "There is no alternative to the F-35." The Ständerat decided 31 to 12 to instruct the Bundesrat to sign the contract by the end of March 2023 -- deliberately before a possible popular vote on the "Stop F-35" initiative (Official Bulletin SR).
Nationalrat Debate (15 September 2022): Mauro Tuena (SVP/ZH) presented a letter from the US Embassy as proof of the fixed price. Priska Seiler Graf warned prophetically: "The damage to direct democracy will haunt us for a long time." Result: 124 yes to 66 no (Official Bulletin NR; Final Vote).
¶ 1.4 Control Committees Investigation (2025)
On 1 July 2025, the Control Committee of the Nationalrat (GPK-N) decided on a formal inspection regarding the fixed price question. The investigation examines whether deficiencies in the Bundesrat's conduct of business can be identified in the contract negotiations. The Swiss Federal Audit Office (EFK) had already warned in 2022 that no fixed price could be derived from the contracts (Parliament: GPK-N Media Release).
The Finance Committee of the Nationalrat (FK-N) expressed its concern on 2 September 2025 about "indefinite delays" and "additional costs" (FK-N Media Release). During question time, the Bundesrat had to face the question: "F-35: When will the Bundesrat finally decide on how to proceed in this procurement scandal?" (Question 25.8128).
¶ 1.5 Bundesrat Decision December 2025
On 12 December 2025, the Bundesrat decided to procure fewer than 36 F-35A. Defence Minister Martin Pfister: "For fiscal reasons, it is not possible to maintain the originally planned number of 36 F-35." (Bundesrat, 12.12.2025).
¶ ### 1.6 Interpellation 2026: International Cost Comparison
Interpellation 26.3213 -- F-35 Procurement: Why Does Switzerland Pay Significantly More Than Poland? Nationalratlor Fabian Molina (SP/ZH) submitted an interpellation on 18 March 2026 addressing the price difference between the Swiss and Polish F-35A procurement. Molina notes that Switzerland pays a unit price of over 200 million francs, while Poland pays approximately 130 to 140 million francs per aircraft -- a premium of about 50 percent that persists even after adjusting for inflation. The interpellant poses seven questions to the Bundesrat:
- How do the total costs (unit price, pilot training, armament, spare parts, etc.) compare between Switzerland and Poland?
- How does the Bundesrat explain the significant price difference?
- What role did the timing of the contract signing and US inflation play?
- To what extent do offset obligations increase the effective purchase price?
- Do the F-35As intended for Switzerland have different or better equipment than those for Poland?
- Was Parliament transparently informed that Switzerland pays a significantly higher price in international comparison?
- What lessons does the Bundesrat draw for future arms procurements?
The Federal Council’s response on the price comparison with Poland has been available since 6 May 2026. It points to different procurement packages: the Swiss price includes armament, training, logistics and integration. Comparisons of isolated unit prices need this context. Original source.
(Parliament: Interpellation 26.3213)
Complete Bundesrat Responses
A systematic documentation of all Bundesrat responses to F-35-related parliamentary affairs -- with the complete original texts of questions and answers -- can be found on the page Bundesrat Responses on F-35 Procurement.