Published: 26 Aug 2012 09:33 GMT+02:00 | Print version
Updated: 26 Aug 2012 09:33 GMT+02:00
Switzerland has agreed details of its planned purchase of 22 fighter jets from Sweden, despite a critical parliamentary report on the deal, the defence ministries of the two countries said on Saturday.
A Swiss government statement said an agreement in principle had been concluded between its weapons procurement agency Armasuisse and Sweden's FXM agency on the acquisition of the Saab Gripen warplanes.
Final details of specifications, delivery dates, prices, equipment and infrastructure had been settled pending a final green light from Bern, it said.
The deal forms part of a larger order for Gripens to be shared with Sweden, which Stockholm said Saturday would help to keep costs down.
The Swiss parliamentary security commission said on Tuesday that the "choice of jet made by the Federal Council carries the most risks: technically, commercially, financially and in respect of the delivery date", Swiss news agency ATS reported.
The members of the commission nonetheless voted 16 to 9 against demanding that ministers put a halt to the deal.
Defence Minister Ueli Maurer said that the Gripen "was the cheapest" option compared with the French Dassault Rafale and the EADS Eurofighter and its purchase price -- 3.126 billion francs ($3.25 billion) -- was guaranteed not to change.
Opponents of the Gripen purchase, which still has to be approved by the federal parliament, have said that they would seek to hold a national referendum on the deal.
The Gripens, to replace the Swiss air force's ageing US-built F-5 Tigers, are of a more advanced model still under development and will not be available before 2018, according to Bern.
For its part the Swedish government plans to buy 40-60 new Gripens over the next decade at a cost of two billion kronor (€242 million).
Tibetan exiles in Bern on Friday urged Swiss authorities to take China to task for its human rights record during a landmark visit by Premier Li Keqiang focused squarely on a trade deal. READ () »
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday hailed a free trade deal with Switzerland as a landmark achievement, saying it had "huge meaning" for global trade and underscored Beijing's growing openness to the world. READ () »
Steffan Millius grips his sword and makes his way through the throngs of people crowding into Appenzell's central square to take part in Switzerland's famous direct democracy in perhaps its purest form. READ () »
A University of Neuchâtel professor under fire for alleged plagiarism is now facing accusations of falsifying his CV. READ () »
The sailboat of Swiss explorer and adventurer Mike Horn was ordered seized by a Marseille court in a southern French port over a dispute involving a naval architect, according to a media report. READ () »
Geneva cantonal police raided eight erotic massage parlours on Tuesday for an investigation into tax fraud allegedly amounting to several million francs. READ () »
A diamond necklace from Geneva jeweller De Grisogono worth 2.5 million francs was reported stolen from Cannes on Thursday, just days after thieves made off with 1.4 million francs' worth of bling from Chopard, another jeweller from the Swiss city. READ () »
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sees a looming free-trade deal with Switzerland as a touchstone for Beijing's growing ties with foreign nations, he told a Swiss newspaper on Thursday ahead of a landmark visit to Europe. READ () »
Whether you have ever or never visited the Netherlands, the country that crowned a new monarch this year is also celebrating a wealth of special jubilees in its popular capital. Here’s the lowdown on why Amsterdam is the place to be in 2013. READ () »
After a wetter than usual start to spring, Switzerland is bracing for a return to wintry conditions and snow in some locations over the next few days. READ () »
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.