Switzerland paid for Patriot missiles. US took the money and failed to deliver. Now it won’t return it

It was intended as leverage: In September, Switzerland halted payments for the Patriot air defense system. It didn't work. Since then, the US has simply been siphoning off the money Switzerland transfers for the F-35 fighter jet.

Defense chief Urs Loher confirms the investigation. He also told SRF the exact sum that the US has already diverted from the fighter jet program to the Patriot missile system. However, under pressure from US authorities, he is no longer allowed to disclose the amount. "It's a low three-figure million-franc sum," is all Loher will say. He is referring to well over 100 million Swiss francs.

The "fine print" makes it possible
The US is circumventing the payment freeze by diverting funds for the Patriot fighter jet program. How is this possible? In the US, arms deals with foreign countries always go through the government – specifically, through the Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS). The US maintains a fund within the FMS framework for all Swiss arms purchases.

Patriot is among the best long-range air defense systems. However, it will be several years before the product from the US manufacturer Raytheon is delivered to Switzerland.

Whether it's for the F-35 or the Patriot: all Swiss payments end up in this fund. If one project runs short of money, the US is allowed to access funds for other projects. That's precisely what the US authorities are now doing: fighter jet money is flowing to Patriot.