2023-07-03 18:59:07
– Amherd wants to coordinate arms purchase with Austria and Germany
“European Sky Shield” is the name of a project by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who is traveling to Bern on Friday. Switzerland wants to be there – along with 16 other European countries.
Published: 07/03/2023, 20:59
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in a Leopard 2 A6 main battle tank.
Photo: Sascha Schürmann (Getty Images)
How should the Swiss army react to the threat from the east? How is she supposed to fend off enemy drones, cruise missiles and guided missiles and thus protect herself once morest blackmail? Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, Swiss political and specialist circles have been guessing. Because there are no concrete plans that will take effect quickly.
The last thing you heard from Federal Councilor Viola Amherd was last year. In response to the outbreak of the Ukraine war, she said: “We must procure the new F-35 fighter jet and the new Patriot surface-to-air defense system.” There has been radio silence since Parliament followed Amherd’s call. The problem from a security point of view: It will take up to seven years for the modern systems from the USA to be ready for use in Switzerland.
“European Sky Shield” intends to strengthen the desolate air defense in Europe.
Surprisingly new things are now becoming known: Federal Councilor Viola Amherd, her Austrian counterpart Klaudia Tanner and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius want to sign a joint declaration of intent on Friday in Bern. This was reported on Monday by German and Austrian media and soon followingwards by the «Blick».
Accordingly, as part of the European project called “European Sky Shield Initiative”, purchases of armaments to ward off enemy air attacks are to be jointly agreed in the future. “European Sky Shield” was created last August on the initiative of German Defense Minister Pistorius and intends to strengthen the desolate air defense in Europe and pool joint efforts.
A radar of the Patriot surface-to-air defense system is located at the Emmen airfield. He was presented to the media at the Army Embassy 2022 presentation in March last year.
Photo: Urs Flüeler (Keystone)
Procurement projects for air defense are to be tendered jointly by participating armies in Europe in order to be able to achieve lower prices on the armaments market. The cooperation should also enable discounts in the areas of maintenance and logistics.
neutrality not affected?
Amherd’s Ministry of Defense emphasizes that this is also possible for neutrals like Switzerland without any problems. In the future, each participating country can define where and to what extent it wants to participate. After signing the (initially non-binding) declaration of intent, Switzerland will examine where cooperation with other countries should be specifically strengthened. “For example, synergies can be strengthened with the new Swiss ground-to-air defense system Patriot, for example in the exchange of information and in cooperation in operation and training,” says the Defense Department (VBS). This might lead to cost savings.
From the point of view of the DDPS, joint purchases of new defense systems are also conceivable – specifically for shorter distances. Switzerland already has a problem here: the army does not (with the exception of a few Stinger guided missiles and fewer 35mm cannons) have a functioning protective shield for nationwide drone defense either now or in the future. The new Patriot system, which should be available from 2030, is designed for longer ranges.
Regular meeting
According to the DDPS, participation will be possible in many areas in the future for neutral states. In the present case, Switzerland and Austria intended to record their reservations under neutrality law in an additional declaration.
Participation in or involvement in international military conflicts is to be ruled out. By signing the declaration of intent, the neutrals Austria and Switzerland want to join the cooperation of a total of 17 European countries behind the “European Sky Shield” project.
Swiss ArmyBenjamin Gafner has been Federal House Editor since 2000. His reporting focuses on security and migration policy issues.More information
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