Switzerland and the United States are at odds over the final pricing of 36 F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, which Bern acquired to replace its aging combat aircraft, officials said Wednesday.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) claims Switzerland should cover additional expenses due to rising inflation and surging raw material and energy costs in the US in recent years. However, Switzerland maintains that the agreed fixed price of just over six billion Swiss francs (approximately $7.5 billion) must stand.
The DSCA reportedly informed Switzerland in February that the fixed price had been misunderstood, but the agency did not specify how much more it expected Switzerland to pay.
National Armaments Director Urs Loher estimated that the extra costs, if accepted, could fall between $650 million and $1.3 billion, driven by potential inflation, US tariffs, and evolving geopolitical risks.
