Faced with the delay in delivery from the United States of its Patriot air defense system, Switzerland could turn to a European alternative, in this case the SAMP/T NG, the result of a collaboration between Italy and France.
What anti-aircraft defense system for Switzerland? The Franco-Italian option of the SAMP/T NG (New Generation Ground-to-Air Medium Range Land Range) could be favoured, to the detriment of an American purchase of the Patriot system, which was once mentioned.
“We want to be interoperable with our environment, and this environment is Europe,” explained Swiss Secretary of State for Domestic Policy, Markus Mäder. “It’s not a question of radically changing the system, but if one of them is not fast enough, let’s look for an alternative,” he detailed to the Financial Times this Monday, June 8.
Towards use in Ukraine of SAMP/T NG
Already at the beginning of April, Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister spoke of “an abandonment” of a purchase from the United States “in the event of a delay”.
“We still assume that we will be delivered but we do not know when,” lamented the Swiss official.
A statement made shortly after the Pentagon announced the suspension of payments “until the United States has firmly announced new delivery dates and payment deadlines.” From now on, the United States must soon inform Switzerland of the delivery times and costs of the Patriot system.
The Swiss order for these five systems was initially valued at nearly $3 billion for initial delivery in 2027 and 2028. Berne now estimates the delay at at least five years. This possible Swiss turnaround comes as the Federal Council has revised downwards the number of American F-35 combat aircraft that it wishes to acquire, now targeting 30 copies rather than 36. The reason: additional costs invoked across the Atlantic by inflation and the rise in prices. price of raw materials.
The SAMP/T NG system is due to enter service with the French armies in 2027. Ten units have been ordered. This is a Franco-Italian collaboration, led by the Eurosam consortium which brings together the Italian and French branches of MBDA as well as Thales. Denmark, in addition to France and Italy, has chosen to acquire them. For its part, Ukraine must receive a copy this year to “test it against ballistic threats”, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. On paper, the SAMP/T NG has a detection range of more than 350 kilometers and is capable of intercepting a target 150 kilometers away.
