Procurement Costs and Cost Overruns
¶ 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
¶ 1. Background
On 27 September 2020, the Swiss electorate approved the Air2030 planning decree with 50.1% of the vote. The federal decree authorised the procurement of new combat aircraft for a maximum of CHF 6 billion [1].
On 30 June 2021, the Bundesrat announced that the F-35A by Lockheed Martin had been selected. The procurement of 36 aircraft was to be conducted through a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract with the United States. The Bundesrat referred to a binding maximum price [6].
¶ 2. Cost Explosion in 2025
¶ Press Conference of 7 August 2025
On 7 August 2025, Defence Minister Martin Pfister announced at a press conference in Bern that the United States had claimed additional costs for the 36 F-35A. A legal opinion confirmed that the fixed-price guarantee was not legally enforceable under the FMS procedure [7].
The communicated additional costs amount to CHF 0.65 to 1.3 billion, depending on the source [1][3]. The NZZ estimated the total cost for 36 F-35A at CHF 6.7 to 7.3 billion [3].
¶ Causes of the Additional Costs
According to media reports, the additional costs were caused by several factors [1][7]:
- The United States refused to honour the negotiated fixed price
- Inflation, raw material prices and US tariffs
- The fixed-price guarantee proved to be legally unenforceable
¶ Bundesrat Options
Pfister presented several options at the press conference on 7 August 2025 [1][7]:
- Purchase of fewer aircraft within the existing budget
- Partial compensation through offset deals
- Supplementary credit via Parliament
- Combinations of the options mentioned
The Defence Department was to analyse by the end of November 2025 how many combat aircraft are needed for air defence [1].
¶ 3. What Does the F-35 Cost Switzerland?
Note: The following calculations are based on publicly available figures and represent an independent analysis. They serve for illustration purposes and should not be understood as an official cost estimate.
| Original (2020) | Current Estimate (2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | 36 F-35A | approx. 29–30 F-35A |
| Total cost | CHF 6 bn | CHF 6.7–7.3 bn |
| Unit price | ~CHF 167 m | ~CHF 203 m |
| Cost overruns | CHF 0.65–1.3 bn |
Sources: Popular vote 2020, NZZ [3]. Unit prices: own calculation.
¶ Verification
- 30 aircraft × ~CHF 203 m = ~CHF 6.09 bn (slightly above budget)
- 29 aircraft × ~CHF 203 m = ~CHF 5.89 bn (within budget)
The actual number depends on the final negotiation results with the United States. According to the NZZ, the expected number is approximately 30 aircraft [3].
¶ 4. Bundesrat Decision of 12 December 2025
On 12 December 2025, the Bundesrat decided to procure the maximum possible number of F-35A within the existing financial framework of CHF 6 billion [2][6]. According to media reports, this amounts to approximately 30 aircraft instead of the originally planned 36 [3][4].
¶ Pfister's Request and Rejection
Defence Minister Pfister had in essence requested a supplementary credit to finance all 36 aircraft. The Bundesrat rejected this request [3].
Pfister stated in essence that from a military perspective, even 36 aircraft would not be sufficient and that the decision was not ideal [3].
¶ Remaining Aircraft
The procurement of the remaining approximately six aircraft was not definitively decided. A later procurement remains open and would need to be approved again by Parliament [2][3]. The DDPS was to present the parameters for the next steps by the end of January 2026 [6].
¶ 5. Assessment: Are 30 Combat Aircraft Enough?
The 2017 expert report "Air Defence of the Future" concluded in essence that 30 combat aircraft would suffice for daily air policing duties. In crisis or wartime scenarios, limitations would be expected but could be partially offset by the expansion of ground-based air defence [5].
In essence, the 2017 experts noted that in air defence as well – thanks to the expansion of ground-based air defence – an adequate performance could be delivered [5].
However, the expert report recommended 55 to 70 modern combat aircraft for comprehensive air defence of Switzerland [6].
¶ 6. International Price Comparison
¶ 6.1 F-35A Procurements Worldwide
The following table shows publicly known F-35A procurements by various countries. Figures are drawn from official government sources, DSCA (Defense Security Cooperation Agency) approvals, and media reports.
Important note on comparability: Prices are not directly comparable, as packages vary by country (aircraft only, or including armament, pilot training, spare parts, infrastructure, logistics, and/or maintenance contracts). Furthermore, DSCA figures represent maximum ceilings, not actual contract prices. Exchange rate fluctuations further complicate comparison.
| Year | Country | Qty | Total Price | ~USD total | USD/unit (calculated) | Package scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Israel (1st tranche) | 19 | USD 2.75B [9] | 2.75B | ~145M | Aircraft + logistics |
| 2014 | South Korea (1st tr.) | 40 | USD 7.04B [10] | 7.04B | ~176M | Aircraft + technology transfer |
| 2016 | Denmark (1st tranche) | 27 | USD 3.0B [11] | 3.0B | ~111M | Aircraft + support |
| 2020 | Belgium | 34 | EUR 4.0B [12] | ~4.5B | ~132M | Aircraft + support until 2030 |
| 2020 | Poland | 32 | USD 4.6B [13] | 4.6B | ~144M | Aircraft + logistics + training |
| 2020 | Japan (full package) | 147 | USD 23.11B [14] | 23.11B | ~157M | 105× F-35A + 42× F-35B + support |
| 2021 | Finland | 64 | EUR 8.378B [15] | ~9.5B | ~148M | Full package incl. weapons + support |
| 2021 | Switzerland (36) | 36 | CHF 6.035B [1] | ~6.6B | ~183M | Aircraft + logistics + training |
| 2022 | Germany | 35 | USD 8.4B [16] | 8.4B | ~240M | Aircraft + munitions + support (DSCA) |
| 2023 | Israel (3rd tranche) | 25 | USD 3.0B [17] | 3.0B | ~120M | Aircraft + support |
| 2023 | Canada | 88 | CAD 19.0B [18] | ~14.2B | ~161M | Aircraft + support |
| 2023 | South Korea (2nd tr.) | 20 | USD 2.9B [19] | 2.9B | ~145M | Aircraft |
| 2023 | Czech Republic | 24 | USD 6.5B [20] | 6.5B | ~271M | Aircraft + munitions + support (DSCA) |
| 2024 | Romania | 32 | USD 7.2B [21] | 7.2B | ~225M | Aircraft + engines + support (DSCA) |
| 2024 | Greece (1st tranche) | 20 | USD 3.5B [22] | 3.5B | ~175M | Aircraft + support |
| 2025 | Switzerland (reduced) | ~30 | CHF 6.0B [3] | ~6.8B | ~227M | Aircraft + logistics + training |
Calculation: Total price divided by number of aircraft. Approximate exchange rates at time of contract signing.
Own illustration -- Indicative values, not an exact price comparison. Total prices include different services depending on the country (services, weapon packages, spare parts, infrastructure, training). A direct unit price comparison is therefore only partially meaningful. Blue: nominal unit price in CHF at the exchange rate at time of deal. Orange: inflation-adjusted to 2025 CHF (method: unit price in USD, adjusted with US CPI to 2025 USD, then converted at 0.88 CHF/USD). DSCA prices are ceilings, not contract prices.
¶ 6.2 Interpellation 26.3213: Switzerland vs Poland
In March 2026, Nationalratlor Fabian Molina (SP/ZH) addressed the price difference between Swiss and Polish F-35A procurement in an interpellation [8]. The table shows that Poland's 2020 contract has a comparatively low unit price (~144M USD), while Swiss procurement (~183M USD for 36 and ~227M USD for 30 aircraft) falls in the upper range. The differences are partly explained by the timing of the contract (before the 2021--2023 inflation wave) and Swiss offset obligations.
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.
Note: These figures represent a simplified calculation (total price divided by number). They do not allow a definitive assessment of price fairness, as packages include different services.
¶ Sources
[1] SRF: Billions in Additional Costs for F-35 (7 August 2025)
[2] SRF: Switzerland Procures Fewer F-35 Than Originally Planned (12 December 2025)
[3] NZZ: DDPS Chief Pfister Fails in Bundesrat (12 December 2025)
[4] 20 Minuten: Pfister Wants to Buy Only 30 F-35 (23 November 2025)
[5] SRF: 30 Combat Aircraft Could Just About Suffice (December 2025)
[6] DDPS: Air2030 – Procurement F-35A (12 December 2025)
[7] SRF: Pfister Informs About Billions in Additional Costs (7 August 2025)
[8] Parliament: Interpellation 26.3213 -- F-35 Procurement: Why Does Switzerland Pay Significantly More Than Poland? (18 March 2026)