SWI swissinfo.ch: Swiss to vote (again) on buying new jet fighters

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Swiss to vote (again) on buying new jet fighters

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This content was published on March 9, 2018 2:58 PMMar 9, 2018 - 14:58
The Swiss people voted against buying 22 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets in 2014

The Swiss people voted against buying 22 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets in 2014
(Keystone)

Swiss voters will have a say on whether to buy new fighter jets – but not on the type of jet. The Federal Council said on Friday the issue would be put to the nation given the large amount of money involved and that it was an essential part of national security.

It added that the two previous projects to buy new jets – F/A-18s in 1993 and Gripen fighters in 2014 – had also been subject to a nationwide vote. The 22-plane Gripen contract was rejected by 53.4% of voters. 

+ When voters rejected new jets in 2014

A vote is expected to be held by 2020 at the latest. The government said the type of plane will be decided after the vote.

In November, the Federal Council said it wanted to spend CHF8 billion ($8.4 billion) on new fighter jets and missile defences for the Swiss army. It tasked the defence ministry with looking at potential aircraft and has asked it to begin talks with Airbus, Boeing, Dassault, Lockheed Martin and Saab. 

On Friday, the pacifist Switzerland Without an Army group criticised the government’s strategy as “undemocratic”, saying voters would know neither the cost nor number of planes – or indeed what the planes could even do. The group said it would start collecting signatures for a referendum against the purchase.
Swiss jets fly over the Alps
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Which fighter jets would you buy?

The Federal Council wants to spend CHF8 billion on new fighter jets. These five models are high on the shopping list.
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"Suze1 commented on the content at 10 March 2018 10:06".
Suze1 10-Mar-2018 10:06
Voting on any questions of investment in defence and its need in any land seems to be a case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. These are political, moral and ethical and financial decisions on which everyone has their views but in this day and age can any country feel safe with reduced defence? Such reduction, on the other hand, has to start somewhere.
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"joe commented on the content at 10 March 2018 22:09".
joe 10-Mar-2018 22:09
Switzerland has a "play" army...do it right or get crushed when the Americans don't step in and help
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"max commented on the content at 11 March 2018 11:08".
max max 11-Mar-2018 11:08
Our defense minister got it right. The majority of the voters is likely not capable to assess which fighter plane is technically adequate to police our airspace. Since more planes of the existing fleet are being idled because of old age problems, replacement has become inevitable.
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