Switzerland to receive most F-35s from Italian plant

Italy is to build the bulk of Switzerland's F-35A order, with the remainder coming from the United States and potentially Switzerland itself. (Italian Air Force)

Switzerland is to receive the bulk of its Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft from the Italian production plant in Cameri, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection, and Sport (VBS) said on 24 March.

The VBS announced that most of its F-35A aircraft will come from the final assembly and checkout (FACO) facility in Italy, with some coming from the Fort Worth production line in the United States, and perhaps others being built in Switzerland itself as part of an offset package for RUAG.

“Switzerland is to have at least 24 of the 36 F-35A fighter jets produced in Cameri, Italy. In the case of four other aircraft, clarifications are under way as to whether their final assembly can instead take place as part of an offset project in Switzerland. The first eight aircraft will be manufactured in the US because the initial training for Swiss pilots will take place there,” the VBS said. It added that the agreed price and delivery schedule will remain unchanged, with the aircraft being delivered from 2027.