Partial F-5 replacement may last until 2015 after further postponement

05:56 GMT, August 27, 2010 defpro.com | Although supported by F/A-18C/Ds, the ageing F-5 Tiger II of the Swiss Air Force will have to carry the burden of the nation’s air policing and defence tasks for a period far longer than expected. During a press conference on Wednesday, the Swiss Defence Minister, Ueli Maurer, announced that the partial replacement of its 54 aircraft-strong F-5 fleet would be postponed due to defence budget issues. As a consequence of this decision, the replacement process will last, at most, until 2015, according to the Defence Minister.

The three competitors EADS (Eurofighter), the French company Dassault (Rafale) and Sweden’s Saab (Gripen) had anticipated that a final decision in the multi-billion dollar tender would be made within weeks. However, on Wednesday the Federal Council of Switzerland (Bundesrat) decided, upon request of the Federal Department for Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS), to postpone the selection of the country’s future fighter “due to the Federation’s current financial situation and general priorities.” According to the Defence Department, it will work with the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) to create by late 2011 the requirements for the procurement of the aircraft in the second half of the decade.

In 2008 the three contenders had been thoroughly evaluated in a comprehensive process. All competing aircraft types, each in a two-seat configuration, were flown by a Swiss pilot and a pilot of the respective manufacturer during 100 test flights, performing different missions, including supersonic and night flights. Being an important aspect of military aviation over the Alpine country, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) conducted noise measurements in Emmen and Meiringen during the test flights.

Irrespective of the aircrafts’ performance, the evaluation proved that the designated credit limit would not suffice. The Defence Minister then stated that the actual cost of replacing 22 F-5s would reach an estimated CHF 3.5 to 5.0 billion (€2.7 - €3.8 billion; $3.4 - 4.8 billion). This led to an earlier decision to suspend the competition with the possibility to further extend this postponement (see http://tinyurl.com/nubkhd). In October 2009, the Bundesrat announced that it would abide by the planned schedule for the replacement, taking into account the difficult financial situation, the Defence Department’s related security-political report, and the citizens' initiative against the procurement of new combat aircraft (see http://tinyurl.com/36de5hc).

However, Defence Minister Maurer – who took office 11 months after the tender and having been a fierce critic of the procurement programme – now asked the Bundesrat for a postponement of the contract award, put into effect on Wednesday. Despite the Bundesrat’s financial assessment of late 2009, the recent decision has also been made in light of other equipment gaps of the Swiss Armed Forces that need to be closed in upcoming years. Maurer estimates that the procurement of new aircraft would render all other major military purchases impossible for a period of about eight years.

Earlier this year, the Bundesrat approved the Armament Programme 2010, which includes three programmes for the procurement of military equipment worth CHF 529 million (€361.39 million; $491.82 million) (see http://tinyurl.com/ylj5awt). As in the case of the F-5 replacement (Some of the Tiger fighter aircraft have been in service with the Swiss Air Force for more than 30 years), the Defence Department required this cash injection, for among other reasons, to reduce operating costs created by ageing systems by means of “specific investment in new, cost-effective systems.”

Although the three international companies, who have led a fierce competition over this major defence contract, may be disappointed about the recent setback, the most imminent – yet in this case positive – consequences will affect RUAG. The Swiss company has maintained and modernised the fleet of Swiss F-5 and F/A-18 fighter aircraft for decades and will continue to do so for a number of years now difficult to predict. However, the F-5 will continue to be the backbone of the Swiss Air Force for at least five more years, if not more. The Ministry pointed out that the fleet of 33 F/A-18C/Ds would meet current requirements for air policing tasks in Swiss air space.

Despite the Bundesrat’s recent decision, RUAG insisted that it would not have a direct impact on the work of the company. In an official statement, RUAG acknowledged that the company “is capable to further keep the Tiger fleet, as well as the F/A-18s, operational during the upcoming years.” According to RUAG, the company maintains superior industrial relations with each of the competitors and places special emphasis on further being the competence centre and technology partner for maintenance, repair and modernisation of the current, as well as the future aircraft, of the Swiss Air Force.


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By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor