Switzerland: armasuisse completes RFI on additional long-range ground-based air defence system

The Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse today received the last documents from the contacted manufacturers in four countries regarding an additional system for long-range ground-based air defence. The information received is now being analysed and will serve as a basis, so that the Federal Council will be able to decide on the next steps over the summer.

In view of the tense geopolitical situation and the increasing threat through ranged weapons, the Federal Council wants to specifically strengthen air defence. Due to the delay of several years in the delivery of the US Patriot system, the Federal Council instructed the DDPS in its meeting of 6 March 2026 to examine the procurement of an additional system which will preferably be produced in Europe.
Four nations contacted
As a result, the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse obtained additional information on systems for long-range ground-based air defence from four nations by means of a “Request for Information” (RFI). The manufacturers contacted in Germany, France, Israel and South Korea have submitted the documents on time as of today.
The feedback is now being evaluated from a military, technical and commercial perspective. Based on this information and further clarifications in connection with the Patriot system, the Federal Council is expected to decide on the next steps during the summer.
A potential additional system should preferably be produced in Europe. This may be either a European system or a non-European system that is manufactured in Europe. This should, on the one hand, reduce dependencies on individual supply chains or individual states, while on the other hand, better secure availability.