Switzerland orders Patriot PAC-3 missiles

Armasuisse has signed an agreement with the US government to procure PAC-3 MSE missiles. (Lockheed Martin)

Armasuisse, the Swiss Federal Office for Defence Procurement, signed an agreement with the US government on 30 October to procure Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles and related support equipment, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) and Lockheed Martin announced in separate press releases on 31 October. The US company said Switzerland thus became the 15th PAC-3 partner nation.

Procurement of a second type of missile for the Patriot will increase the capabilities of Swiss ground-based air defence (GBAD) and the sustainability of the Swiss Armed Forces, according to the DDPS, which added that the PAC-3 MSE is the newest missile for the Patriot and is designed mainly to defend against short-range missiles.

Switzerland is procuring the missiles under its Air 2030 programme via the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

An offset agreement was also signed between Switzerland and Lockheed Martin on 30 October.

The DDPS valued the contract at CHF300 million (USD332 million), with deliveries planned for 2028–29. The Swiss parliament approved the procurement of the missiles through the Armeebotschaft (Armed Forces Message) 2023 budget.