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The US Department of Foreign Relations briefs Congress on the possible arms deal with Switzerland and lists exactly what will be sold, from the number of free-fall bombs to night-vision goggles.
The price that Americans want for the modern F-35 (Lockheed Martin) seems aggressive. 40 of them, including their weapons, are said to cost nearly a billion less than the same amount of Super Hornets (Boeing). (AP Photo / Wilson Ring, file)
Photo: KEYSTONE
It is now known how many weapons Switzerland would get from the United States if the Federal Council decided on an American fighter jet next year. Under US law, the State Department must report to Congress anticipated arms sales abroad. The September 30 in question three detailed messages the sale of new combat aircraft to Switzerland and a new ground air defense system (Bodluv).
Notably, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth jet is said to be significantly cheaper than Boeing’s old Super Hornet (F / A-18). According to the State Department, 36 fully equipped Super Hornets and four empty jets (as required by Switzerland) will cost $ 7.452 million. That’s significantly more than the 6 billion Swiss francs that the Swiss electorate agreed to on Sunday. But it’s also about a billion more than Americans want for the F-35. According to this, 36 stealth planes, including their weapons, plus four empty planes, should generate revenues of $ 6.58 billion for the United States, as the notification shows.
70 surface-to-air missiles
From the Paper The Patriot surface-to-air defense system on offer (estimated at US $ 2.2 billion) indicates that Switzerland will receive 70 Patriot MIM-104 E guided missiles. Army ammunition stocks are often secret. Due to applicable US law, this is no longer the case for the Swiss military if it opts for the US defense system.
The US offering also includes 36 pumps. These are 12 free-fall bombs, 12 GPS-guided bombs and 12 guided slider bombs. Switzerland will also receive 50 new air-to-air missiles (Sidewinders) and night vision goggles.
Kaj-Gunnar Sievert of the arms agency Armasuisse says: “The congressional notice specifies the maximum amount of defense equipment and the dollar amount that the United States can offer to a partner.” For Switzerland, this means that the value of the contract after the final negotiations will be less than that published in the communication.
