The Federal Council of Switzerland has given the green light for the country’s involvement in the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) PATRIOT Support Partnership (SP).
This move is aimed at bolstering Switzerland’s ground-based air defence systems by ensuring a steady supply of spare parts and support services.
The partnership, which encompasses maintenance, ammunition monitoring, technical assistance, procurement, training, and transportation support, is part of Switzerland’s broader Air2030 programme.
This programme also includes the acquisition of the new F-35A fighter aircraft.
On 16 February 2022, the Federal Council sought commitment credits from Parliament for the procurement of these defence systems through the 2022 Army Dispatch.
Parliament approved the dispatch on 15 September 2022, and four days later, Switzerland signed the procurement contract with the US government and an offset agreement with Lockheed Martin.
In April 2023, Raytheon Technologies received a $1.2bn (SFr1bn) foreign military sales contract from the US Army to supply Switzerland with the Patriot air defense system.
The delivery of the F-35A aircraft and Patriot systems is scheduled to commence between 2027 and 2030, according to Federal Office for Defence Procurement, armasuisse.
A logistics support strategy involving the original manufacturers and logistics partnerships such as the NSPA PATRIOT SP will be implemented during the operational phase of the Patriot system.
The NSPA provides member states services such as management, spare parts supply, maintenance, ammunition monitoring, and technological support for procurement, training, and transport.
By joining the NSPA PATRIOT SP, Switzerland aims to align its interests with other European countries that use the Patriot system.
Since 1996, Switzerland has been collaborating with the NSPA and is already a participant in support partnerships for AMRAAM and Stinger missiles, making the NSPA PATRIOT SP its third such partnership.
The Federal Council said “Swiss industrial companies will be able to participate in NSPA tenders related to support partnerships in which Switzerland participates. This will strengthen the security-related technological and industrial base and improve Switzerland’s defence capabilities”.
Switzerland is exploring avenues to enhance collaboration with allied nations, a goal established by the Federal Council in its 2021 Security Policy Report and reinforced in the 2022 Supplementary Report.
The nation is assessing the potential for additional alliances with the NSPA. In this context, Switzerland and its enterprises might consider the benefits of reciprocal acknowledgment of official GQA quality evaluations.
