Switzerland adds ballistic missile defense capability to its future Patriot batteries

Switzerland will equip its Patriot air defense batteries with the capability to shoot down short-range ballistic missile with the purchase of PAC-3 MSE interceptors.

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From the budget of the Swiss armament procurement program set for 2023, some US$ 324 million will be allocated for the acquisition of PAC-3 MSE missiles, which will give the recently acquired Patriot air-defense system the capability to intercept short-range ballistic missiles.

Switzerland, like many others, is closely following the events of the war in Ukraine and is drawing lessons to apply to the improvement of its own Armed Forces. The successful operational use of short-range ballistic missiles, by both sides, was duly assessed and it was decided to reinforce Swiss air defense capabilities against this threat.

Air2030 modernization program

During 2022, Switzerland selected the Patriot system, from the U.S. firm Raytheon, as the winner of the GBAD (Ground Based Air Defense) program, which is an essential part of its Air2030 program, which aims to achieve a complete renewal of Switzerland’s airspace protection systems by the 1930s onwards. This program also provided for the renewal of Switzerland’s fleet of F/A-18 Hornet fighters, which will be replaced by Lockheed Martin’s F-35A.

See also: Swiss F/A-18C/D Hornet service life extension program

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The configuration decided by Switzerland in 2022 for its Patriot batteries features the PAC-2 GEM-T (Guidance Enhanced Missile, Tactical) guided missile, which is oriented to defense against aircraft, drones and cruise missiles, having also a limited defense capability against short-range missiles. At the time of the evaluation, such capability was not included in the selection criteria, but was considered as a future purchase option.

The increase in the defense budget decided by the Swiss parliament allows reacting to the change in threat potential and requesting the purchase of PAC-3 MSE (Missile Segment Enhancement) missiles ahead of schedule.

Ballistic missile shield

These missiles extend surface-to-air defense capabilities to combat short-range ballistic missiles (such as the Russian Iskander) much more effectively. Because Ballistic missile defense is technologically more complex than that against aircraft and drones, these missiles are more expensive than the GEM-T-type PAC-2s already under contract.

See also: 14 NATO members and Finland agreed to strengthen European air defense

The purchase of PAC-3 MSE missiles expands the capabilities of the Patriot surface-to-air defense system. Swiss commanders see this as an additional investment for the still unlikely, but compared to a year ago quite conceivable, eventuality of Switzerland having to defend itself against a military attack on its own territory. In such a hypothetical scenario, the airborne threats they would have to face would come in the form of fighter jets, cruise missiles, drones and also short-range ballistic missiles.