US Approves $115M For Swiss F/A-18 Fighter Jet Upgrades

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Switzerland for F/A-18 upgrades for an estimated cost of $115 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale Friday.

The Government of Switzerland has requested the possible sale of a Service Life Extension Program for its F/A-18C/D aircraft to include up to 50 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) with Concurrent Multi-Net 4 (CMN-4) capability; 50 ARC-210 GEN 5 RT-1900A(C) radios w/Second Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN) frequency hopping; 20 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) Night Vision Cueing Display (NVCD); CIT Automated Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out; software enhancements to the APG-73 radar; improvements to the F/A-18 Software Configuration Set (SCS) 29C; and sustainment for the ALQ-165 Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ) system. 

Operational support for these modifications will be provided through upgrades to the purchaser’s unique Mission Data System.  Also included are:  system integration and testing; software development and integration; support equipment; spare and repair parts; maintenance personnel and pilot familiarization training; software support; publications and technical documents; U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

The proposed sale will allow the Swiss Air Force to extend the useful life of its F/A-18 fighter aircraft and enhance their survivability.  Further, the proposed sale will increase Switzerland’s tactical aviation operational capabilities.  Switzerland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and support into its armed forces.

The principal contractors will be the Boeing, Data Link Solutions, Rockwell Collins, Rockwell Collins ESA Vision System.