Switzerland is refocusing after the US raised the price and delayed the contracted Patriot systems. To whom

Switzerland said on Wednesday it would look into purchasing air defense systems from other suppliers after the United States informed it that the delivery of already long-delayed Patriot missile systems would be further delayed by the war in Iran.

Switzerland ordered the five Patriot missile defense systems in 2022, with an initial estimate that they would be delivered between 2026 and 2028, a deadline that has already been pushed back by four to five years due to the war in Ukraine.

The government in Bern said it had been told by Washington that the Iran war would lead to further delays and cost increases, with a delay of five to seven years now expected.

“All options would lead to delivery delays as well as substantial additional costs,” the Swiss government said.

Switzerland expects to receive responses by the end of the month from five other suppliers of long-range land-based air defense systems, the executive said. He did not name the suppliers, but said they came from Germany, France, Israel and South Korea. He also added that he would prefer the systems to be produced in Europe.

The Federal Council, Switzerland's government, is to decide on next steps in the coming months, the statement said.

The Swiss government said in April that abandoning the purchase of the Patriot systems was an option.

The price of the five Patriot systems could double from 2.3 billion Swiss francs ($2.9 billion) to 4.6 billion francs, Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported, citing well-informed sources.

Reuters reported last month that the US had informed its European counterparts of possible delays in previously contracted arms deliveries as the war with Iran continues to deplete arms stockpiles.