Ruag and Lockheed Martin partner for F-35 assembly in Switzerland

Ruag and Lockheed Martin have formalized a contractual agreement under ‘Project Rigi’ to establish a specialized facility for the final assembly and testing of F-35A fighter jets in Emmen, Switzerland.

Under the updated agreement, the scope has been adjusted from four jets to three to optimize the cost-benefit ratio. This move positions Emmen as one of only four global locations capable of performing F-35 final assembly and testing. The project aims to establish Ruag as a ‘Life-Cycle-Support-Provider’ for the Swiss Armed Forces, securing regional jobs and building high-tech expertise in military aviation.

The assembly process involves several stages: the first fuselage is expected in Switzerland in September 2027, with production beginning in autumn 2027. Once assembled and tested in Emmen, the aircraft will be flown to Italy to receive radar-absorbent stealth coating before being delivered to the Payerne Air Base. Ruag aims to complete the assembly of all three jets by 2030, positioning itself to participate in the growing European market for F-35 aircraft.