The Swiss government said Wednesday there could be no public vote on replacing its ageing fleet of warplanes with F-35A fighter jets before the deal was signed, infuriating campaigners.
The announcement came despite a petition containing more than 100,000 signatures, which allows any matter to go to a vote under Switzerland’s direct democracy system.
Although the left-leaning “Stop-F-35” alliance delivered the petition last week, the government said there would not be enough time to hold a vote before US manufacturer Lockheed Martin’s offer for 36 F35-As expired.
“A delay in the acquisition of the F-35A would have serious consequences for Switzerland’s security,” said a government statement.
The Stop F-35 coalition denounced what it called a “cowardly avoidance manoeuvre” and a “mockery of a functioning democracy”, demanding a vote before the deal was done.
Switzerland’s current air defence set-up will reach the end of its service life in 2030. It began seeking replacements for its ageing fleet of fighter jets more than a decade ago.
The government won a razor-thin referendum in September 2020 backing the military to spend six billion Swiss francs ($6.2 billion) on a new fleet.
The F-35A combat aircraft — already used by the US Air Force and several European countries — was chosen ahead of several European rivals.
Two Swiss parliamentary committees launched an investigation into why the model won despite a series of technical problems reported in the United States. They also questioned their high cost.
The Stop-F-35 alliance was formed to try to force the issue to a fresh vote, this time on the choice of F-35As.
But the government said Wednesday that a referendum effectively blocking the purchase deal would set a bad precedent.
Landlocked Switzerland has a tradition of armed neutrality, with mandatory conscription for men.
rjm/apo/jj
LOCKHEED MARTIN
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US to donate 8 helicopters to Czech Republic
Prague (AFP) Aug 19, 2022
The United States said Friday it will donate eight combat and multi-purpose helicopters to the Czech Republic, a NATO member.
The Czech Republic has been a major contributor of military equipment to Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24.
The six combat AH-1Z and two multi-purpose UH-1Y helicopters will be given under the Excess Defense Articles programme, the US embassy in Prague said.
“The Czech Republic will only pay for the upgrade and transport of the equipment,” the embassy said o … read more
