Amazing Sweizer Air Force.
The Swiss Air Force (German: Schweizer Luftwaffe; French: Forces aériennes suisses; Italian: Forze aeree svizzere; Romansh: Aviatica militara svizra) is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces, established on 31 July 1914, three days after the outbreak of World War I, as a part of the army and in October 1936 as an independent service.
Early years The first military aviation in Switzerland took the form of balloon transport, pioneered by Swiss balloonist Eduard Spelterini, but by 1914 there was still little official support for an air corps. The outbreak of World War I changed opinions drastically and cavalry officer Theodor Real was charged with forming a flying corps. He commandeered three civilian aircraft at Bern's airfield and set about training the initial nine pilots at a makeshift airfield close to Wankdorf Stadium, later moving to a permanent home at Dübendorf. Switzerland remained neutral and isolated during the conflict, and the air corps confined its activities to training and exercises, reconnaissance and patrol. It was only with the worsening international situation in the 1930s that an effective air force was established at great cost, with up-to-date Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Morane-Saulnier D‐3800 fighters ordered from Germany and France respectively (the Moranes were licence-built in Switzerland). The Swiss Air Force as an autonomous military service was created in October 1936
 Logo of the Swiss Air Force |
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| Founded | 31 July 1914; 109 years ago |
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| Country |
 Switzerland
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| Type | Air force |
| Role | |
| Size | 20,000 active personnel |
| Part of | Swiss Armed Forces |
| Website | www |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Electronicwarfare | F-5F Tiger II, Pilatus PC-9 |
| Fighter | F/A-18C Hornet, F-5E Tiger II |
| Helicopter | Eurocopter Cougar, Super Puma, Eurocopter EC635 |
| Reconnaissance | ADS-15 Hermes 900 |
| Trainer | Pilatus PC-7, PC-9, PC-21, F/A-18D Hornet, F-5F Tiger II |
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Current aircraft Swiss Air Force
Fighter:
F-5 Tiger II United States light fighter F-5E 18 6 assigned to the Patrouille Suisse
F/A-18 Hornet United States multirole F/A-18C 25
F-35 Lightning II United States stealth multirole F-35A 0 36 on order - F/A-18 replacement:
Helicopter
Aérospatiale AS 332M1 Super Puma France utility / SAR TH06 15
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar France utility / SAR AS532UL
Eurocopter EC635 France utility / VIP EC635 P2+ 20
Transport:
Pilatus PC-6 Switzerland utility / transport STOL capable aircraft
Bombardier Challenger 600 Canada VIP / MEDEVAC CL604 2
Dassault Falcon 900 France VIP 900EX 1
Cessna Citation Excel United States VIP 560XL 1
Trainer
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland trainer 27
Pilatus PC-21 Switzerland primary trainer 8
F-5 Tiger II United States conversion trainer F-5F 5
F/A-18 Hornet United States conversion trainer F/A-18D 5
Pilatus PC-9 Switzerland target tug/trainer PC-9/F 4
Former Aircraft Swiss AF.
Mirage III France fighter IIIS 30 retired in 1999
P-51 Mustang United States fighter 131 in service from 1949 to 1957
Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 France fighter 322[22] in service from 1939 to 1956
Messerschmitt Bf 109 Germany fighter 129] in service from 1939 to 1949
Dewoitine D.27 France fighter 66 in service from 1928 to 1944
Hanriot HD.1 France fighter 16 in service from 1921 to 1930
Nieuport 28 France fighter 15 in service from 1918 to 1930
Potez 25 France bomber 2 in service from 1938 to 1944
de Havilland Mosquito United Kingdom bomber 2 in service from 1944 to 1954
de Havilland Vampire United Kingdom fighter-bomber 182 in service from 1946 to 1990
de Havilland Venom United Kingdom fighter-bomber F.50/54 226 in service from 1954 to 1984
Hawker Hunter United Kingdom fighter-bomber TF.58 125 retired from service 1994
Display Team Patrouille Suisse
The Patrouille Suisse was founded on August 22, 1964 with four Hawker Hunters. Two displays were also flown 1968 with the Dassault Mirage IIIS under the name "Patrouille de Suisse Mirage". Other than those shows the Patrouille Suisse retained the Hunter. In 1970, a fifth aircraft was added to the team, followed by the sixth shortly thereafter. In 1977 a smoke system was introduced.
Active 8 August 1964 – present
Country Switzerland
Branch Swiss Air Force
Role Aerobatic team
Size 9 officers, 21 ground crew
Garrison/HQ Emmen
Colors Red, White
Commanders
Current
commander Lt Col Nils Hämmerli "Jamie"
Aircraft flown
Fighter 6 Northrop F-5E Tiger II ; Transport 1 Pilatus PC-6 Porter
Switserland AF Planned acquisitions and projects in progress
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FLORAKO upgrading: In 2017 Armasuisse and RUAG confirmed the contract with Thales for the upgrading of the Master A and M type radars in the FLORAKO system.
ADS15: As part of the Armament Program 2015, six Elbit Hermes 900 will replace the remaining 15 RUAG Ranger
ADS-95s that are still in service by 2019.
Transport aircraft: In 2015, Minister of Defence Ueli Maurer gave assurances that a transport aircraft purchase was planned by 2018. Initial competitors included the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Alenia C-27 Spartan, Airbus C-295 and Airbus A400M Atlas, but the C-17 has since ceased production.
BODLUV2020: The three anti-aircraft systems (Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon FIM-92 Stinger and Rapier missile) should be replaced by 2020 by two systems which will have their command and control connected to the FLORAKO System.
24h/365 QRA15: by 2020 the Swiss Air Force intends to have a round-the-clock 15 minutes Quick Reaction Alert capability (15 minutes from an alert to fighters becoming airborne) with fully armed F/A-18 fighter jets, based at Militärflugplatz Emmen and at Payerne Air Base (the main base for QRA operations); During this time, the presence of F/A-18s will be steadily increased to full strength at permanent readiness.
F/A-18 replacement: In June 2021, it was announced that the Lockheed F-35A had been chosen to replace Switzerland's fleet of F/A-18 Hornets. A total of 36 aircraft are planned to be procured, alongside which Switzerland will also purchase five MIM-104 Patriot SAM systems. Switzerland allocated $6.48 billion funds for total 36 F-35A fighter jets. Raytheon America to partner with Rheinmetall Air Defence and Radar Systems and Mercury Systems to provide Patriot air defense systems to Switzerland as part of $2.16 billion contract.
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General characteristics
Performance
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