In September 2022, the Swiss government signed a procurement contract for the F-35A, formalizing the selection announcement made in June 2021. The contract agrees to the procurement of 36 F-35As to be delivered between 2027 and 2030. The F-35 is a multi-role fighter aircraft that is ideally suited to the task of monitoring, protecting and defending Swiss airspace. The advanced capabilities of the 5th Generation F-35 will ensure the Swiss Air Force can defend Swiss sovereignty for decades to come.

Designed to meet the US Military's requirement for a multi-role Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35 was first flown on December 15, 2006. This single-seat fighter is one of the most advanced aircraft of our time, said to be four times more effective at air-to-air combat and eight times more effective at air-to-ground combat than any other existing aircraft. It uses a low-maintenance stealth technology, and some versions have an innovative Lift System, which gives the F-35 vertical take-off and landing capabilities. The US plans to buy a total of 2,443 F-35s at a cost of $323 billion, which makes the F-35 the most expensive defense program in history.

Info:  F-35A Lightning II - Swiss Air Force, #J-6024, Switzerland, 2023