Report and photos by Robin Polderman
The Swiss newspaper ‘Luzerner Zeitung’ reported about the plan to centralize the Swiss Air Force fleet of Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets as a first step towards retirement of the type.
According to the newspaper, the Federal government decided to move all Hornets to Emmen airbase starting in 2027, with the fleet operating from there until its planned withdrawal in the early 2030s. Currently, F/A-18 maintenance is performed at Emmen by state owned company RUAG, but no permanent F/A-18 squadrons are based at the airfield.
Three Swiss squadrons operate the F/A-18C/D; Fliegerstaffel 11 at Meiringen airbase in the German-speaking part of the country, as well as Escadrille 17 and 18 flying out of Payerne (French-speaking). Out of 34 F/A-18s delivered, four (F/A-18C J-5022 and F/A-18Ds J-5231, J-5235 and J-5237) were lost in crashes.
In July 2021, the Swiss announced the selection of the Lockheed Martin F-35A as successor to the F/A-18 Hornet (and the few remaining F-5s), with plans to purchase a total of 36 aircraft for US$7.6 billion.
The first eight jets will be built by Lockheed Martin at its Fort Worth plant, and initially be used for the training of Swiss pilots in the United States. A further 24 F-35s for the Swiss will be assembled at the FACO (Final Assembly & Check Out) facility in Cameri, Italy.
The remaining four jets will undergo final assembly and testing at RUAG in Emmen, following the completion of appropriate training and with the technical support of Lockheed Martin. This will not be classified as a production project, but rather as a contractual technology- and know-how transfer.
The airbase at Payerne is slated to become the first Swiss airbase to receive the F-35, with deliveries starting in 2027, while Meiringen airbase will be next in line to take in the Lightning II.
Current plans will see the 36th and final Swiss F-35 delivered during 2030, which will allow the retirement of the F/A-18 Hornet fleet shortly thereafter.