Swiss Considering Rival Air Defences After Washington Delays Patriots Over Iran War

Source: US News & World Report/Reuters

May 13, 2026, at 7:01 a.m.


ZURICH, May 13 (Reuters) - Switzerland said on Wednesday ⁠it ⁠will look into whether ⁠to buy air-defence systems from other suppliers, after the ​United States informed it that long-delayed Patriot missile systems will be held up ‌further because of the war ‌in Iran.

Switzerland ordered the five Patriot missile-defence systems in 2022 with ⁠an initial ⁠expectation they would be supplied in 2026-2028, a timeline that has ​already slipped by four to five years because of the war in Ukraine.

The government said it had now been told by Washington that the Iran war ​would lead to additional delays and cost increases, with a delay of ⁠five ⁠to seven years now to ⁠be ​expected. "All options would lead to delivery delays as well as substantial additional costs," ​the government said.

Switzerland ⁠expects to receive feedback by the end of the month from five additional suppliers of long-range ground-based air-defence systems, the government said. It did not identify the suppliers but said they came from Germany, France, Israel and ⁠South Korea. It said it would prefer if the systems are produced ⁠in Europe.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2026-05-13/united-states-informs-switzerland-of-delays-price-hike-in-patriot-delivery