Switzerland Government Denies Plans to Extend Life of F/A-18, Leaving F-35 as the Only Option

Introduction

The controversy over the purchase of 36 **F-35A Lightning II** continues to stir Swiss political debate. After speculations that the current fleet of **F/A-18 Hornets** could remain in service beyond 2032, the **Federal Council** has made it clear that it has no intention of going in this direction. According to the executive, there are no alternatives to the F-35, considered the only aircraft capable of ensuring the defense of the national airspace in the coming decades.

The Federal Council’s Rebuttal

Statements from the head of the Air Force, **Peter Merz**, suggesting that the F/A-18s could accumulate up to 1,000 additional flight hours at an estimated cost of between **800 million and 1 billion francs** (832 million – 1.04 billion euros), fueled criticism. Some parliamentarians from the **Security Policy Committee (SPC)** argued that this option would have bought time till 2035 or even 2037, opening the possibility of evaluating European alternatives like Rafale or Eurofighter.

However, the **Department of Defense (DDPS)** has officially denied this speculation, reiterating that Switzerland is bound by the contract with the United States, and that extending the life of the Hornets is not part of the plans. The government’s position remains firm: without the F-35, the country’s air defense would be compromised from 2032 onwards.

In addition to considering the high expense, Switzerland being one of the last operators of the aircraft beyond 2035 could risk managing a diminishing supply of spares along with uncertainties associated with life extension operations.

Rising Political Tensions

The executive’s position has sparked reactions from various elected representatives, accusing the Federal Council of ‘stubbornness’ and wanting to proceed with the project at any cost, despite cost overruns that may increase by **1.3 billion francs more than the initial budget** and delivery delays from the US.

Some members of the SPC spoke of a lack of transparency: “It’s false to say that there are no alternatives. Continual denial erodes institutional credibility,” commented one deputy.

Nevertheless, the government maintains that any other option would take too long for a new international competition, and would risk leaving Switzerland without air defense for several years. Therefore, despite the criticisms and doubts raised, the Federal Council considers the F-35 route as the only feasible one.