Switzerland will be able to operate its F-35A fighter jets without external restrictions, ensuring full autonomy over its fleet, according to a press release from the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).
The Swiss defence authorities issued the statement in response to media reports alleging that the F-35A and Patriot missile system acquisitions from the United States would make Switzerland dependent on American oversight and approvals. The DDPS refuted these claims, asserting that neither system requires external authorisation for Switzerland’s use in defence operations.
“A ‘remote control’ or ‘blocking’ of the F-35A fighter jets, for example through external interventions in the electronics, is not possible,” the DDPS stated, emphasising that Switzerland retains complete control over its aircraft.
The department also clarified that software upgrades for air-to-air missiles such as the AMRAAM are optional and do not affect the weapon’s operability. “Switzerland has never sent an AMRAAM to the USA for a software upgrade,” the DDPS said, adding that updates do not render missiles non-operational and would be conducted jointly with a US mobile team in Switzerland if required.
Additionally, concerns over data dependencies on the United States were addressed. The DDPS highlighted that secured data communication systems, such as Link-16 and GPS navigation, are standard in all Western fighter aircraft, including European-made models. However, it was confirmed that the F-35A and Patriot system can operate effectively without satellite navigation or data links, ensuring that Switzerland is not reliant on US technology for core combat functions.
The statement also reinforced Switzerland’s commitment to maintaining the highest possible level of operational and logistical autonomy while recognising that absolute independence from foreign manufacturers is neither feasible nor cost-effective.
“Switzerland is striving for the greatest possible operational, technical and logistical autonomy in the procurement of its weapons systems,” the DDPS said, while acknowledging that complete independence would require developing all military systems domestically, which is not economically viable.
The DDPS further pointed to Switzerland’s growing interoperability with European allies, as Italy, Germany, and several other nations have also selected the F-35A for their air forces. This, it noted, provides enhanced cooperation opportunities for Switzerland in the future.
While the United States maintains export control policies to prevent unauthorised transfers of its military technology, the DDPS stated that this has no impact on Switzerland, as the country is purchasing the systems solely for its own use.
The F-35A, which will enter Swiss service in the coming years, will provide pilots with an autonomous situational awareness capability through its advanced sensor systems, the DDPS added.
There is an article over on TWZ about this,it implies that there is no switch as such but without US support the software etc would degrade and reduce the planes effectiveness!
Yes, no one would build a kill switch to their aircraft, the idea is totally retarded but without US support there may as well be a kill switch. You won’t be flying these aircraft for very long after Uncle Sam says NO.
Anyone buying the F35 now is daft including the UK. 48 F35B is fine for our immediate needs like the carriers and SEAD especially if backed by drones. Typhoon with CAPTOR E and Meteor is more than capable of taking on SU57 or the J20. It’s fast and reliable and we can build it in numbers and make jobs in the UK.
GCAP Tempest might end up being the biggest success in UK aircraft history. There will be so little US competition that Italy is now proposing to the USA they buy Tempest as NGAD no longer looks viable.
The Americans buying Tempest, after what it was rumoured the part they had on the demise of the TSR2, ably assisted by Mountbatten and a deeply ill informed frankly utter rubbish report about missiles doing everything . The irony would be utterly delicious !!!
As long as it’s the US buying and not bullying into the programme. I would not have the US in on GCAP unless it was very very Clear where sovereignty was sitting for all partners..customers buying it yes, but letting them take control of the programme ( and they would want control and the workshare on foreign orders) a big NO, the UK got roundly screwed on sovereignty in the F35 programme…Isreal a nation that invested nothing in the development of F35 has more sovereign control than the Uk who invests billions in development funding
You could say that about any software. Once your laptop’s operating system is out of vendor support it’s not wise to keep using it- particularly if it has an internet connection. If you’re using an out-of-support app on a supported operating system there’s also no guarantee that the next O-S update won’t break the unsupported app. If you’re using unsupported hardware there’s no guarantee that the drivers for the peripherals will continue to work with a supported O-S. Modern technology needs a lot of hand-holding.
The mere fact that Swiss felt it was necessary to issue a statement like this says a lot about the current state of US – Europe relations. Decades of trust shredded in just a few weeks.
Says a lot about people’s trust in US industry as well. It’s shit like this that stops people buying any planes from China.
I seriously doubt F35 will ever win another competition except for some middle eastern ones set up for it.
I can see production shutting down soon as DOGE don’t like it and neither does the Pentagon budget inspectors.
I spoke with a US friend last night who is horrified at the orange lunatics antics. Trust and relationships between countries and industries being washed away in a passing chat on airforce one.
Boeing Lockheed and the like are quietly fuming at the damage to potential foreign sales. They cannot speak out and there is no open back door conduit to the top.
I think you should check the spelling of “Switzerland ” in your thumbnail !
Ah Clive-that is where all the Swizters live 🙂
I usually send a quick message to George with the “Contact us” option top right with spellings.
They no doubt don’t have the time to read the comments and see your post.
It can then be quickly cleared up.
Got to admit, I’m curious how that department came together. Defence and Civil Protection I can understand, but how did Sport join the party?
Tangoman and his red buttons!….? Remains. 🤔🍷😕, 🕳️🙃back to the hole.
I’m sorry, you are forgetting that he isn’t a real person but merely a marionette for the PM who wanted to make more cuts and didn’t previously have a compliant man in the defence ministry.
I have a “Kill Switch” on my motorbike, it’s big and red. For software controlled hardware it’s more subtle.. says only : no access granted and mission target not allowed! so what! We must urgently discuss the property rights on software controllable hardware! I have at least three tablets that are not upgradable anymore.. little damage a few hundred francs. The hardware works though! What a waste of resources! A F35 that costs over 300 Million a piece is not a tablet but a huge investment!
The idea of a kill switch is nuts, even for the American as the jet could be hacked but the F35 is a maintenance intensive fighter, an unfriendly US government could slap an export embargo which would be just as effective.
The decision to keep Tempest (I refuse to call it GCAP) US component and input free is making more sense by the day. Given the increasing antagonistic behaviour of the Trump administration and the trust bridges they are burning. I can foresee F35 sales fall off a cliff in about four years time in favour of Tempest or FCAS.
You’re right, GCAP is the Programme, Tempest is the platform.
Cutting off logistics and maintenance support would be just as good as a kill switch.
Yes a kill switch is not just a big red button, it’s the ability to remove support that shuts down a nations ability to use that capability within a damaging timeframe.
A couple of people have noted that Italy has mentioned the possibility of the U.S. joining GCAP. This is more than the Italians floating an idea…it seems to be coming from the US..
“The Trump administration had dispatched its envoy to push the case for the US participation in the Euro-Japanese jet program. In March Paolo Zampolli, a close associate of US President Donald Trump as US special envoy to Italy, proposed US participation in the GCAP. Zampolli met with high-ranking Italian officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, to boost US-Italy defense ties. While speaking to Italian media, Zampolli argued for a unified transatlantic fighter jet program.“
It looks to me like the US have blown their NGAD budget and now want to muscle in on the far more advanced GCAP programme. Considering that amount of money the US always insists on pushing into its pork belly defence industry, the requirement for work share and it’s natural refusal to ever allow others to retain sovereign control of programmes the US are involved in..the UK, Japan and Italy would become junior partners and essentially locked out of sovereign control as the Uk was with F35.
People assuming that tier one countries can’t software upgrade a system evidently don’t appreciate the nature of the work done by these countries.
The ‘Kill switch’ story is a scare story by the owners of certain media organisations. And it will be done with the intention of discrediting and harming US businesses, and/or discrediting government procurement decisions.
Needless to say, a load of nonsense.
What’s nonsense is the guff in Trumptard supporters’ heads. They tie themselves into pretzels trying to defend Agent Orange/Reznov, it’s pathetic 🤡🤣
The F-22 first flew in 1997. 28 years later and how many 5th generation aircraft has Europe flown?
Which has nothing to do with the issue at hand.
How many F35s are I order ?