“Fly-Off” — Swiss Report Explains How The Country Chose the F-35

By Kris Osborn, President, Warrior

Switzerland’s decision to acquire the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter seemed to send a ripple effect through the European Continent, leading some to suggest that indeed the 5th-Gen aircraft will become a unifying NATO-Europe thread of continuity if not begin to emerge as the stealth fighter for the “free world.” In subsequent years following Switzerland’s decision, Germany and the Czech Republic have also joined the F-35 community of nations.

Many are likely to wonder how this happened, as the F-35 journey has been complex, marked by controversy and embattled by a chorus of critics and cost concerns for many years. Certainly the program’s early pains have long since subsided and the aircraft is heralded by pilots and militaries alike, but there must be additional reasons for this massive F-35 global expansion?

Just what is it that makes the leap from 4th-to-5th generation so decisive with the F-35? Why does there appear to be a massive overmatch or discrepancy between the targeting, detectability and combat effectiveness of the F-35 when compared with upgraded 4th-generation aircraft? Such a statement, something possibly considered an exaggeration during earlier years in the F-35 program, is far from theoretical. Air Force war games such as Red Flag have for years shown that a single F-35 is capable of seeing and “eliminating” groups of advanced 4th-gen aircraft from ranges where it remains undetected. Also, there are now many years of US and European pilot testimonials, live fire tests, multi-national drills and war preparation exercises lending credibility to the stated merits of the aircraft. There is also the simple, unavoidable reality or fact that F-35 customers have exploded throughout the world, as the program has evolved from eight or nine member-nations to 18 in recent years.

Some may be inclined to ask why countries consistently choose the F-35, particularly given the European Typhoon, Rafale, Eurofighter and a handful of allied and rival-nation 5th-and-6th generation stealth fighters at various stages of production and development.

An interesting assessment performed and published by the Federal Council of the Swiss Government outlines the parameters and variables which informed its decision to purchase the F-35. Prior to announcing its decision to purchase the F-35, the Swiss government and military conducted a thorough investigation, assessment, test or “fly-off” among a small group of candidate aircraft under consideration.

A paper published by the Swiss Federal Council in 2021 called “Air2030: Federal Council Decides to Procure 36 F-35A fighter aircraft,” details the scope of the fly-off.

“The Federal Council based its decision on a comprehensive technical evaluation of four new fighter aircraft candidates (Eurofighter by Airbus, Germany; F/A-18 Super Hornet by Boeing, USA; F-35A by Lockheed Martin, USA; Rafale by Dassault, France).”