Switzerland: Air2030, second proposals for new fighter aircraft and extended-range ground-based air defence systems received

Test7 · Nov 23, 2020

Armasuisse received the second set of proposals for Switzerland's Air2030 NKF to replace the Swiss Air Force's F-5E/F Tiger II and F/A-18 Hornet (pictured) fleets and Bodluv GR GBAD system on 18 November.

Bern, 18.11.2020 – The government authorities of the potential candidates for a new fighter aircraft (NFA) and an extended-range ground-based air defence system (Bodluv GR) submitted their second proposal to armasuisse on November 18, 2020. With that, armasuisse starts to work on the evaluation reports, which are planned to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.

On November 18, 2020, armasuisse received the second proposals for new fighter aircraft from the government authorities of the four potential manufacturers: Germany (Airbus Eurofighter), France (Dassault Rafale) and the USA (Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and Lockheed-Martin F-35A). In the second request for proposal, the companies contacted via the government authorities were requested to submit the most advantageous proposal for Switzerland.

The proposals include the following elements:
• prices for 36 and 40 aircraft, including defined logistics and weapons, as a binding starting point for the detailed negotiations with the selected candidate after the type selection
• offers for cooperation between the armed forces and the procurement authorities of Switzerland and those of the supplier country
• envisaged or already initiated offset projects

New extended-range ground-based air defence system

On November 18, 2020, armasuisse received the second proposals for extended-range ground-based air defence systems from the government authorities of the two potential manufacturers: France (Eurosam SAMP/T) and the USA (Raytheon Patriot). As with the new fighter aircraft, the companies contacted via the government authorities were requested to submit the most advantageous proposal for Switzerland..

The offers include the following elements:
• price for extended-range ground-based defence systems capable of covering at least 15,000 km2, including defined logistics and weapons, as a binding starting point for the detailed negotiations with the selected candidate after the type selection
• offers for cooperation between the armed forces and the procurement authorities of Switzerland and those of the supplier country
• envisaged or already initiated offset projects

Next steps in the Air2030 programme

The overall benefit of each system will be determined using the information from the second proposal and the findings from the various testing activities. The results, together with a comprehensive risk analysis, will feed into the evaluation report, where the overall benefit of the new fighter aircraft and the new extended-range ground-based air defence system will be set against the costs of procurement and 30 years of operation. The evaluation reports are planned to be concluded in the 1st quarter of 2021. The type selection by the Federal Council is planned for both systems in the 2nd quarter of 2021.