A significant financial overrun has forced the Swiss government to dramatically scale back its planned purchase of F-35A fighter jets from U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, dealing a blow to the company’s recent performance streak. The decision, announced by Swiss authorities on Friday, declares the original procurement plan for 36 aircraft unsustainable due to a budget breach.
Budget Cap Forces Drastic Cuts
The core issue is a legal spending limit. Swiss voters approved a strict budget ceiling of 6.035 billion Swiss francs for the fighter jet program in a 2020 referendum. However, a new detailed cost analysis presented by the Swiss Federal Council and the procurement agency Armasuisse reveals total program expenses have ballooned far beyond that figure. The defense ministry in Bern has concluded that acquiring the full fleet under the new cost projections is “financially untenable.”
Consequently, Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister confirmed the government will now procure only “the maximum possible number” of jets within the mandated budget, guaranteeing a reduction in the order size and corresponding revenue for Lockheed Martin.
Staggering Cost Overrun Emerges
The financial shortfall is substantially larger than previously feared. Officials identified a funding gap of 1.3 billion Swiss francs (approximately $1.6 billion). This figure dwarfs earlier reports, which cited a price increase of around $610 million initiated by the U.S. government. The latest analysis indicates the actual cost overrun is more than double those initial estimates.
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Inflation and Contract Terms Drive Price Surge
A combination of macroeconomic pressures and contractual details is behind the cost explosion. Soaring inflation and elevated raw material prices throughout the global supply chain have pushed expenses higher. Furthermore, technical upgrades for the aircraft, including the “Technology Refresh 3” (TR-3) and Block 4 improvements, have proven far more costly than anticipated.
A critical contractual element exacerbated the situation. Contrary to initial expectations, the U.S. government did not provide a binding fixed-price guarantee for the entire duration of the program. This effectively transferred the inflation risk onto the purchaser, leaving Switzerland exposed to the rising costs.
Investor Sentiment and Broader Market Implications
Lockheed Martin’s shares, currently trading at 409.60 euros, reflect ongoing investor caution with a year-to-date decline of nearly 13%. This persists despite recent contract wins that had fostered some optimism.
For market participants, the broader signal from Switzerland’s decision may carry more weight than the immediate loss of revenue from this single order. The episode highlights the vulnerability of major defense programs like the F-35 to inflationary pressures and rigid national budgets. It demonstrates that seemingly secure order books can erode when costs spiral, presenting a tangible risk. There is now concern that other partner nations operating under tight fiscal constraints may follow suit and review their own commitments rather than automatically approving escalating expenses.
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