Switzerland May Choose SAMP/T NG Amid Patriot Delays

The French-Italian company Eurosam has emerged as the leading contender to supply Switzerland with a second long-range air defense system.

Blick reported this, while Armasuisse, Switzerland’s Federal Office for Defence Procurement, confirmed that the military-industrial evaluation of the submitted proposals had been completed.

The Swiss Federal Council will make the final decision on the system selection. At the same time, Armasuisse has not officially disclosed the names of the systems that remain in the competition.

Switzerland began seeking a second long-range air defense system due to delays in the delivery of U.S.-made Patriot systems previously ordered under the Air2030 program.

In March 2026, the Federal Council instructed the Federal Department of Defence to prepare the procurement of an additional long-range ground-based air defense system, preferably of European manufacture.

At the project’s initial stage, manufacturers from France, Germany, Israel, and South Korea were invited to participate.

Switzerland set key selection criteria, including delivery speed and reliability, effectiveness against long-range aerial threats, integration with the national air defense system, and a stable supply of missiles and spare parts.

In addition, Bern wants part of missile, control-system, or critical-component production to be localized in Switzerland or other European countries.

According to Blick, the system’s European origin could be one of the advantages of Eurosam’s proposal.

This is likely referring to the SAMP/T NG, the new generation of the French-Italian air and missile defense system.

The SAMP/T NG is equipped with modern 360-degree surveillance radars and uses ASTER 30 family missiles, including the new ASTER 30 B1NT variant.

The system can detect targets at ranges of more than 350 km and engage aerodynamic targets at distances exceeding 150 km. In addition to aircraft and cruise missiles, the system is designed to counter ballistic targets.

In February, the Swiss Federal Department of Defence expressed doubts about the reliability of information on the terms and delivery dates for U.S. air defense systems and the possible delivery of SAMP/T systems to Switzerland in 2029.