Informations

Communiqué

Air defence: 1.7 billion for French-speaking Switzerland

The GRPM applauds the new step in the Swiss Army's process of acquiring combat aircraft. The Federal Council chose the F-35 at a cost of 6 billion. The GRPM will work together with Lockheed-Martin to build solid relationships with companies in French-speaking Switzerland.

As a reminder, the aircraft manufacturer should offset 60% of the total amount, or 3.6 billion, 1.1 billion of which will take place in French-speaking Switzerland (30%). Not only will companies specialising in aviation, defence and security have access to contracts, but fields such as watchmaking, mechanics, machinery, metalwork, rubber processing, IT security and research and development will also be involved. The GRPM will play its long-standing role as a platform between aircraft manufacturers and companies in French-speaking Switzerland. The resulting economic benefits will allow us to bring expertise into the country as well as maintaining or creating jobs in fields that use cutting-edge technology.

The GRPM will do the same with the company that won the long-range airspace protection contract. In this case, the amount of 2 billion will be fully offset. For French-speaking Switzerland, the economic benefits will therefore amount to 600 million francs. In total, the industrial collaborations resulting from the purchase of aircraft and of air defence will reach 1.7 billion in French-speaking Switzerland.

GRPM, Rue des Voignous 9, 2800 Delémont / www.grpm.ch / contact@grpm.ch /
+41 (0)79 459 72 85, Philippe Zahno, general secretary