F-35 program faces technical delays and reduced Swiss assembly scope

The Swiss F-35 procurement project, known as ‘RIGI’, is facing challenges regarding both technical capabilities and local industrial involvement. At the RUAG facility in Emmen, the number of F-35A aircraft slated for partial final assembly and testing has been reduced from four to three. This reduction decreases the order volume for the state-owned defense group and raises concerns regarding the economic efficiency of building specialized expertise and infrastructure for maintenance and operations.

Simultaneously, technical issues with the F-35 program have emerged in Finland, which may serve as a warning for Switzerland. While Finland has received its first jets, reports indicate that the aircraft may lack certain promised capabilities. The ‘Block 4’ upgrade package, intended to provide advanced sensors and electronic warfare capabilities, is reportedly years behind schedule, with a completion date now estimated around 2031. This delay may force nations like Finland to bear significant additional costs to install missing functions themselves, a scenario that could also impact the Swiss defense budget.