Thales Bags Swiss Air Surveillance Contract, Defeats Raytheon, Saab

The Swiss Army has selected Thales’ Skyview airspace surveillance and flight operations system for its Air 2030 procurement programme, clinching the deal after defeating its competitors- Raytheon and Saab.

The programme includes contracts for the purchase of around 40 new fighter jets, a ground-based air defence system and radar. The total budget for Air 2030 is CHF8 billion ($8 billion) with the fighter jets alone accounting for CHF6 billion ($6 billion).

In contention for the Swiss fighter jet contract are the French Rafale (Dassault), German Eurofighter (Airbus), and from the American side, the successor to the FA-18, the Boeing Super Hornet and the F-35A from Lockheed-Martin (Swedish Saab recently pulled their Gripen out of the competition). The contract for the air-defence system will be decided between Eurosam SAMP/T (France), Rafael David's Sling (Israel) and Raytheon Patriot, Swiss media reported.

“Thales was chosen because of its best value for money. In addition, Skyview is the system that proves to best meet the requirements,” Swiss Department of Defense said in a statement Thursday.