The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Switzerland of five Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.2 billion, 40 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $6.58 billion and 40 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $7.452 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on October 1, 2020.
The proposed sale of the Patriot missile system will improve Switzerland’s missile defense capability. Switzerland will use the Patriot to defend its territorial integrity and for regional stability. The proposed sale supports Switzerland’s goal of improving national and territorial defense. Switzerland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircrafts will support the foreign policy and national security of the U.S. by helping to improve the security of a friendly European nation that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. Sale of F-35s and associated missiles and munitions will also provide the Government of Switzerland with a credible defense capability to deter aggression in the region. The proposed sale will also replace Switzerland's retiring F/A-18s and enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capability.
These sales will improve Switzerland’s capability to meet current and future threats. Switzerland currently operates the Boeing F/A-18C/D, but that aircraft is reaching end-of-life and will be replaced by the winner of Switzerland’s New Fighter Aircraft competition, for which the F/A-18E/F is being considered. The primary missions of the aircraft and associated weapons will be policing the airspace above Switzerland and providing national defense capabilities.
The proposed sales of equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractors of the Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units will be Raytheon Corporation, Tewksbury, Mass. and Lockheed Martin, Dallas, Texas. The principal contractors for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircrafts will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, Texas; Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn.; The Boeing Company, St. Charles, Mon.; and Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Ariz. The principal contractors for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircrafts will be The Boeing Company, St. Louis, Mo.; Northrop Grumman, Los Angeles, Calif.; Raytheon Company, El Segundo, Calif.; Raytheon Missile Systems Company, Tucson, Ariz.; General Electric, Lynn, Mass.; and The Boeing Company, St. Charles, Mo. This proposal is being offered in the context of a competition. The purchaser typically requests offsets, any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of the sale of the Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units will require approximately 25 U.S. Government and forty contractor representatives to travel to Switzerland for an extended period for equipment de-processing/fielding, system checkout, training and technical and logistics support.
The implementation of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircrafts will require multiple trips to Switzerland involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, program management and training over the life of the program. U.S. contractor representatives will be required in Switzerland to conduct contractor engineering technical services and autonomic logistics and global support.
Implementation of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircrafts require the assignment of six additional U.S. contractor representatives to Switzerland on an intermittent basis for a duration of the life of the case to support delivery of the aircraft and provide supply support management, inventory control and equipment familiarization.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result, of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law. The description and dollar value is for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value is expected to be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded