Swiss Audit Flags F-35 Lightning II Infrastructure Delays, Costs Soar Above Budget

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Swiss F-35 Lightning II Airfield Infrastructure Behind Schedule and Over Budget

Swiss airfield infrastructure upgrades required to support incoming Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets are significantly behind schedule and over budget, according to a federal audit report reviewed by swissinfo.ch and released this week.

The Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) found persistent delays at the three military airfields selected for F-35 operations — Payerne, Meiringen and Emmen — and warned that costs have escalated sharply beyond original projections.

Key Findings: Delays and Budget Overruns

• Infrastructure work at Payerne — the principal air base for the future F-35 fleet — started in spring 2025, about six months later than planned, and the original funds have already been exhausted.
• Projects at Meiringen and Emmen are delayed by at least a year, with audit findings indicating that project leads underestimated time and complexity requirements.
• The audit sharply criticized early planning and oversight, noting that timelines and fiscal needs were not adequately defined before construction commenced.

Rising Costs: From CHF120 Million to CHF200 Million+

Swiss parliament originally approved a CHF120 million credit in 2022 for airfield preparation work, before Switzerland’s formal decision to purchase the F-35 and detailed requirements were known.

According to the SFAO audit, renovation estimates have now risen to about CHF200 million, representing a near-70% increase over the original budget. Armasuisse — the federal defence procurement agency — confirmed it will seek a supplementary credit this year to complete essential work.

Auditors also highlighted additional planned construction activities — such as maintenance and non-essential infrastructure — that could add roughly CHF50 million, and criticized a lack of transparency around the total projected costs.

Government Response and Project Outlook

Marcel Adam, head of Armasuisse’s real estate competence unit, told Swiss public broadcaster SRF that construction scheduling is being coordinated with aircraft commissioning timelines, and expressed confidence that essential facilities will be ready on time.

Adam asserted that there are currently “enough hangar spaces available” for the incoming F-35s and that the revised CHF200 million budget covers essential conversion work, with non-critical projects deferred for later implementation.

Context: F-35 Procurement and Broader Cost Issues

Switzerland’s decision to acquire F-35A aircraft has been politically and financially contentious. Surveys earlier last year showed strong public opposition to the purchase, with critics citing cost and neutrality concerns.

In late 2025 the Swiss government acknowledged that rising procurement costs may require a reduction in the planned number of F-35s to remain within the CHF6 billion budget voters approved in a 2020 referendum.

Audit officials stressed that meeting operational deadlines — including readiness for the first aircraft’s expected arrival in mid-2027 — hinges on improved planning, coordination, and clearer financial controls moving forward.