* Switzerland stopped payments for the Patriot air defense system in the fall because delivery has been delayed by years.
* Research by SRF now shows: The payment freeze is ineffective.
* The US is diverting large amounts of Swiss fighter jet money and using it for Patriot.
It was intended as leverage: In September, Switzerland halted payments for the Patriot air defense system. It didn’t work. Since then, the US has simply been siphoning off the money Switzerland transfers for the F-35 fighter jet.
Defense chief Urs Loher confirms the investigation. He also told SRF the exact sum that the US has already diverted from the fighter jet program to the Patriot missile system. However, under pressure from US authorities, he is no longer allowed to disclose the amount. „It’s a low three-figure million-franc sum,“ is all Loher will say. He is referring to well over 100 million Swiss francs.
# The „fine print“ makes it possible
The US is circumventing the payment freeze by diverting funds for the Patriot fighter jet program. How is this possible? In the US, arms deals with foreign countries always go through the government – specifically, through the Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS). The US maintains a fund within the FMS framework for all Swiss arms purchases.
Legend:Patriot is among the best long-range air defense systems. However, it will be several years before the product from the US manufacturer Raytheon is delivered to Switzerland.Keystone / AXEL HEIMKEN
Whether it’s for the F-35 or the Patriot: all Swiss payments end up in this fund. If one project runs short of money, the US is allowed to access funds for other projects. That’s precisely what the US authorities are now doing: fighter jet money is flowing to Patriot.
# VBS needs to inject more money
“From my perspective, this is very unsatisfactory,” says armaments chief Urs Loher. The diversion of funds from the F-35 to the Patriot is putting the Federal Department of Defence (VBS) under pressure. This is because it is creating gaps in the F-35 program. At the end of the year, the VBS had to prematurely transfer several tens of millions of Swiss francs to the US for the F-35 in order to fill these gaps. These early payments are exacerbating existing financial problems: The VBS currently lacks the funds to tackle already approved arms procurements.
# Patriot will be massively more expensive and will arrive many years too late.
Open the box
The US is likely to continue diverting funds to Patriot missiles this year as well. The payment freeze is ineffective. Defense chief Loher defends it nonetheless, arguing that it was a political signal. He also claims that the freeze has enabled the US to be more transparent with Switzerland about the years of delays.
# „Trust in the USA is suffering“
The development has been poorly received in parliament. „It’s infuriating when we halt payments and then the money is simply diverted,“ says SVP National Councillor and security policy expert Werner Salzmann. His FDP colleague Josef Dittli criticizes the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS), saying it was apparently unaware that this circumvention was possible.
SP National Councillor Priska Seiler-Graf feels vindicated in her previous demand to halt the Patriot missile procurement. The SP wants to avoid arms purchases from the US as much as possible. SVP politician Salzmann also says his trust in the US has suffered: „More and more problems with the interpretation of the FMS contracts are emerging. We need to carefully consider whether we even want to conclude such contracts anymore.“
# Power relations are against Switzerland
The Swiss Federal Department of Defence (VBS) is continuing talks with the US. Armaments chief Loher wants to persuade the US to postpone payments for the Patriot missiles. After all, the delivery is also delayed. The outcome is uncertain, says Loher – but he also says: „The balance of power is quite clear.“
AnonVinky on
What is a protection for money deal called that takes the money without offering protection? 🤔
zizp on
It’s just theft at this point.
U-47 on
Oh no the Swiss have a weapons delivery problem? Anyway.
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Translation:
* Switzerland stopped payments for the Patriot air defense system in the fall because delivery has been delayed by years.
* Research by SRF now shows: The payment freeze is ineffective.
* The US is diverting large amounts of Swiss fighter jet money and using it for Patriot.
It was intended as leverage: In September, Switzerland halted payments for the Patriot air defense system. It didn’t work. Since then, the US has simply been siphoning off the money Switzerland transfers for the F-35 fighter jet.
Defense chief Urs Loher confirms the investigation. He also told SRF the exact sum that the US has already diverted from the fighter jet program to the Patriot missile system. However, under pressure from US authorities, he is no longer allowed to disclose the amount. „It’s a low three-figure million-franc sum,“ is all Loher will say. He is referring to well over 100 million Swiss francs.
# The „fine print“ makes it possible
The US is circumventing the payment freeze by diverting funds for the Patriot fighter jet program. How is this possible? In the US, arms deals with foreign countries always go through the government – specifically, through the Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS). The US maintains a fund within the FMS framework for all Swiss arms purchases.
Legend:Patriot is among the best long-range air defense systems. However, it will be several years before the product from the US manufacturer Raytheon is delivered to Switzerland.Keystone / AXEL HEIMKEN
Whether it’s for the F-35 or the Patriot: all Swiss payments end up in this fund. If one project runs short of money, the US is allowed to access funds for other projects. That’s precisely what the US authorities are now doing: fighter jet money is flowing to Patriot.
# VBS needs to inject more money
“From my perspective, this is very unsatisfactory,” says armaments chief Urs Loher. The diversion of funds from the F-35 to the Patriot is putting the Federal Department of Defence (VBS) under pressure. This is because it is creating gaps in the F-35 program. At the end of the year, the VBS had to prematurely transfer several tens of millions of Swiss francs to the US for the F-35 in order to fill these gaps. These early payments are exacerbating existing financial problems: The VBS currently lacks the funds to tackle already approved arms procurements.
# Patriot will be massively more expensive and will arrive many years too late.
Open the box
The US is likely to continue diverting funds to Patriot missiles this year as well. The payment freeze is ineffective. Defense chief Loher defends it nonetheless, arguing that it was a political signal. He also claims that the freeze has enabled the US to be more transparent with Switzerland about the years of delays.
# „Trust in the USA is suffering“
The development has been poorly received in parliament. „It’s infuriating when we halt payments and then the money is simply diverted,“ says SVP National Councillor and security policy expert Werner Salzmann. His FDP colleague Josef Dittli criticizes the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS), saying it was apparently unaware that this circumvention was possible.
SP National Councillor Priska Seiler-Graf feels vindicated in her previous demand to halt the Patriot missile procurement. The SP wants to avoid arms purchases from the US as much as possible. SVP politician Salzmann also says his trust in the US has suffered: „More and more problems with the interpretation of the FMS contracts are emerging. We need to carefully consider whether we even want to conclude such contracts anymore.“
# Power relations are against Switzerland
The Swiss Federal Department of Defence (VBS) is continuing talks with the US. Armaments chief Loher wants to persuade the US to postpone payments for the Patriot missiles. After all, the delivery is also delayed. The outcome is uncertain, says Loher – but he also says: „The balance of power is quite clear.“
What is a protection for money deal called that takes the money without offering protection? 🤔
It’s just theft at this point.
Oh no the Swiss have a weapons delivery problem? Anyway.