Approved by the Swiss Federal Council on 20 June 2025, the agreement is a prerequisite for a formal procurement contract for the medium-range ground-based air defence (GBAD MR) systems. It enables Switzerland to benefit from economies of scale and enhanced interoperability with partner nations.
“Closer cooperation in the area of ground-based air defence with neighbouring and partner nations increases Switzerland’s scope of action,” the Swiss government stated. The IRIS-T SLM systems will help improve protection against long-range weapons and maintain air sovereignty.
As part of integrated air defence, the GBAD MR system will strengthen defence across various distances and altitudes. It is designed to expand coverage in lower, medium, and parts of upper airspace, enhancing Switzerland’s cruise missile defence capability.
The Federal Office for Defence Procurement (armasuisse) plans to acquire five IRIS-T SLM systems from the German manufacturer Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG. Negotiations with the company are largely concluded, and the procurement contract is expected to be signed in summer 2025.
A guarantee credit of 660 million Swiss francs was approved in the 2024 armament programme for the GBAD MR project. The programme aims to replace ageing short-range air defence systems and close a gap in Switzerland’s capability to counter modern stand-off weapons.
The procurement is in line with the Federal Council’s Armament Policy Strategy and is compatible with Swiss neutrality law. Switzerland retains full autonomy in operating and deploying the new systems and is not required to integrate them into NATO or German command structures.
The ESSI was launched by Germany in 2022 to improve coordination and efficiency in European air defence. Switzerland joined the initiative in October 2024 to contribute to joint procurement, training, maintenance, and logistics within a collaborative framework.
Source: Swiss Government.
