Swiss government acknowledges failings in F-35 purchase and agrees procurement reforms

Switzerland’s Federal Council accepted six parliamentary recommendations in full and one partly following criticism of legal scrutiny and price assumptions in its F-35A purchase. The government’s October 2026 response acknowledged that Armasuisse’s legal department had insufficient specialist capacity and outlined stronger oversight, project-specific risk estimates and possible senior approval of major negotiating mandates. Parliament has authorized an additional CHF394 million, while the planned 36-aircraft purchase may fall to about 30 because of available funding. The final number of Lockheed Martin F-35As remains undecided, and these reforms concern procurement governance rather than an additional fighter order.