What is the current status of the second ground-to-air defense system?

The Federal Office of Armaments, Armasuisse, has concluded the evaluation of the second surface-to-air defence system for the Swiss Army, internally named Bodluv GR 2. The choice of the model is now up to the Federal Council. The military and armaments policy evaluations of the bids received have ended.

Which countries have submitted bids for the Bodluv GR 2?

For the second system, Armasuisse collected information and received binding offers from manufacturers in France, Israel and South Korea. The SonntagsBlick indicates the system of the Franco-Italian company Eurosam as a possible winner, although Armasuisse has not provided official indications on the individual systems under evaluation.

What are the expected costs and timelines for defense systems?

For the second air defense system, 5 billion francs are foreseen, fully covered by the army's additional funding of 24 billion, without the need for additional funds in the ordinary armament program. As far as the Patriot system is concerned, there is a delay of five to seven years with a delivery considered realistic by 2032 and a cost ranging from an initial 2 billion to a maximum of 3.7 billion.

Air defense: evaluation of Bodluv GR 2 completed

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 27 September 2026

Evaluation of the second ground-to-air defense system in Switzerland

Armasuisse has completed the evaluation for the second Bodluv GR 2 ground-to-air defense system. The choice goes to the Federal Council.

Context

In brief

Evaluation concluded for the second Bodluv GR 2 system
Choice of model goes to the Federal Council
The Patriot will be delayed by five to seven years
5 billion francs are earmarked for the second system

Key facts

Subject → second ground-based air defense system
Internal name → Bodluv GR 2
Decision → Federal Council
Patriot delay → five to seven years
Realistic delivery → by 2032
Bids → France, Israel and South Korea
Possible winner according to SonntagsBlick → Eurosam
Additional army funding → 24 billion francs

The evaluation phase closes

The Federal Office for Defence Procurement, Armasuisse, has completed the evaluation of the second ground-based air defense system intended for the Swiss Army. The choice of model now lies with the Federal Council, as communicated by Armasuisse to Keystone-ATS. The announced step therefore concerns the model to be selected, not a decision already awarded to a single bidder.

The procurement, internally designated Bodluv GR 2, is intended to fill the gap created by the known problem with the delivery of the US Patriot system. Delivery will be delayed by five to seven years. Kaj-Gunnar Sievert, spokesperson for Armasuisse, described the situation as follows:

«Until one of the two longer-range Bodluv systems is introduced, Switzerland has no protection».

Armasuisse considers a new delivery deadline for the Patriot by 2032 realistic. Defense Minister Martin Pfister therefore intends to proceed with the purchase of the second system as quickly as possible. Sievert also confirmed that the military and arms-policy evaluations of the bids received have been completed, as SonntagsBlick had reported in advance.

For the second system, Armasuisse gathered information from manufacturers in France, Israel and South Korea. All bidders contacted submitted binding offers. SonntagsBlick identifies the system of the Franco-Italian company Eurosam as a possible winner, but Armasuisse provided no information on the individual systems under evaluation.

Elements mentioned include the Federal Council's desire to purchase, if possible, more armaments material in Europe and the politically sensitive situation of a possible purchase from Israel or South Korea. The contract should also help improve relations with France, considered strained after the choice of the US F-35 over the French Rafale. This news concerns a federal decision and does not report changes to salaries or taxes; calcolatore stipendio remains available for personal income.

Operational details

Three figures, three readings

According to Bern, five billion francs are earmarked for the purchase of the second air defense system. The sum is fully covered by the army's supplementary funding, amounting to 24 billion. Armasuisse states that no additional funds will be needed as part of the regular armaments program. To read the picture without mixing different items, the comparison reported by the source is as follows:

Item
Item	Figure
Patriot system	from an initial 2 billion to a maximum of 3.7 billion
Second air defense system	5 billion earmarked
Army supplementary funding	24 billion

The first comparison concerns the Patriot. Armasuisse attributes the increase over the initial estimate to the redefinition of priorities by the US government, inflation, adjustments for obsolescence, and the expansion of capabilities. The source does not present a combined total for the two systems: the maximum cost indicated for the Patriot and the five billion earmarked for the second system therefore remain figures relating to separate items.

The second practical point concerns funding. The text explicitly links the five billion for the second system to the 24 billion in supplementary army funding and specifies that no additional funds will be needed in the regular armaments program. It does not, however, indicate any effect on salaries, taxes, or household spending. To keep this dossier separate from costo della vita in Svizzera, the reader must stick to the figures actually communicated.

A choice still open

The evaluation of the offers is complete, but the selection of the model still belongs to the Federal Council. The binding offers from manufacturers in France, Israel, and South Korea describe the field of bidders; they do not by themselves constitute the announcement of a winner. The reference to Eurosam, too, remains the one reported by SonntagsBlick, while Armasuisse has chosen not to provide details on the individual systems.

The timetable presents a second level of interpretation. The Patriot could be delivered by 2032, according to the timeframe considered realistic by Armasuisse, while Martin Pfister wants to accelerate the purchase of the second system. The source does not, however, indicate a delivery date for the new system. For this reason, it is not possible to turn the dossier into an individual deadline for anyone living or working in Switzerland.

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

The procedure to follow

For those who want to follow the dossier without attributing to it data that were not communicated, the sequence consists of five checks.

1. Consider the evaluation phase concluded: Armasuisse explained that the military and arms-policy evaluations of the offers have been completed.

2. Await the decision on the model: the choice now lies with the Federal Council. Until this decision arrives, the name of Eurosam remains a possibility reported by SonntagsBlick and not an official choice indicated by Armasuisse.

3. Check the Patriot schedule: the expected delay is five to seven years, and Armasuisse considers a new delivery deadline by 2032 realistic.

4. Separate the two financial items: five billion francs are earmarked for the second system, covered by the army's supplementary financing amounting to 24 billion. The text specifies that no additional funds will be needed in the normal armaments program.

5. Check for any new information on the systems: upon request, Armasuisse did not provide information on the individual systems under evaluation. Any further detail must therefore be distinguished from the rumors reported by SonntagsBlick.

What does not emerge from the source

The text does not describe forms, documents, individual applications or steps to be taken at a cantonal office. Nor does it indicate a procedure for citizens, workers or companies. The concrete action for the public therefore consists of following the federal process and checking three elements when new announcements arrive: the model chosen, the Patriot timetable and the funding framework for the second system.

This reading avoids confusing an armaments decision with a change to one's personal situation. The source discusses Armasuisse, the Federal Council, binding offers, deliveries and army financing; it does not link the dossier to salaries or taxes. To keep the analysis of military spending separate from one's income situation, use the calcolatore stipendio.

Source: swissinfo.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current status of the second ground-to-air defense system?: The Federal Office of Armaments, Armasuisse, has concluded the evaluation of the second surface-to-air defence system for the Swiss Army, internally named Bodluv GR 2. The choice of the model is now up to the Federal Council. The military and armaments policy evaluations of the bids received have ended.
Which countries have submitted bids for the Bodluv GR 2?: For the second system, Armasuisse collected information and received binding offers from manufacturers in France, Israel and South Korea. The SonntagsBlick indicates the system of the Franco-Italian company Eurosam as a possible winner, although Armasuisse has not provided official indications on the individual systems under evaluation.
What are the expected costs and timelines for defense systems?: For the second air defense system, 5 billion francs are foreseen, fully covered by the army's additional funding of 24 billion, without the need for additional funds in the ordinary armament program. As far as the Patriot system is concerned, there is a delay of five to seven years with a delivery considered realistic by 2032 and a cost ranging from an initial 2 billion to a maximum of 3.7 billion.