Swiss committees back more F-35 funds, ammunition boost

Swiss parliamentary committees are backing increased funding for the nation's defense, proposing an additional 394 million francs for the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets. The move, part of the 2026 army message, aims to fully utilize the funding approved by the Swiss people for the aircraft purchase.

Beyond the F-35s, the security policy committees of both the Council of States and the National Council are advocating for an additional 500 million francs for ammunition. This funding is intended to rapidly replenish ammunition reserves, which are crucial for strengthening defense against probable threats like remote attacks and hybrid conflicts. The committees emphasize the necessity of increasing the army's defense capacity.

While the majority supports these financial boosts, a minority within the National Council's security committee expressed reservations about the additional F-35 funding, arguing it wouldn't solve underlying issues. This group suggested reallocating resources to areas that could more directly enhance security. The committees also rejected proposals to acquire the originally planned 36 jets and to increase the additional credit by 650 million francs due to inflation-related cost overruns.

The National Council will deliberate on the complete army message during its autumn session. The proposals signal a continued commitment to modernizing Switzerland's military capabilities amidst evolving security challenges.