Demolition stopped – due to British interest: Confusion over old Swiss anti-missiles

class=”sc-29f61514-0 kHgAwW”>

Excitement in the DDPS: Viola Amherd’s (60) department was already demolishing the decommissioned anti-aircraft systems of the Swiss Army when the British reported. When they inquired about the state of the systems, the question suddenly arose: does London want to buy the defensive weapons?

Strictly speaking, it would have been a buyback: Switzerland had adopted Rapier-type systems from Britain in the 1980s. With the missiles now obsolete, the federal government decommissioned them in late 2022 and began scrapping them.

A first tranche of the 60 Rapier systems had already been decommissioned with more to follow. However, after the British request, the VBS ordered the march to stop. Removal stopped.

Shortly after 1pm on Friday, Kaj-Gunnar Sievert, spokesperson for the Federal Office for Armaments (Armasuisse), confirmed to SonntagsBlick: “Britain has informally contacted the DDPS on this matter and has inquired about the systems.” Investigations are underway.

Parliament could not stop the sale

The British seemed to be considering a buyback. Not for your own army, but to pass on to countries in Eastern Europe, such as Poland or the Baltic states. They supply large quantities of weapons to Ukraine – they could have filled gaps in their own air defense systems with the rapier guns. A transfer to Ukraine is theoretically possible.

Legally, a resale to the British would not be a problem. Armasuisse spokesman Sievert: “According to the neutrality law, it is generally permitted that decommissioned war material from the stocks of the Swiss army be sold back to the country of manufacture or given free of charge and without conditions.” Moreover, because the systems have already been phased out, parliamentary approval is no longer required, only approval from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

So after the Leopard 2 tank deal with Germany, greenlit by the Bundesrat last Wednesday, is another ring swap on the horizon? “Since there is no official request, it cannot be said what Britain intends to do with the systems,” said Armasuisse spokesman Sievert on Friday afternoon.

Will the missiles still be demolished?

A few hours later, everything was different. At 7:00 pm, Sievert reported again: “As I have just learned, Britain has no interest in the Swiss Rapier systems.” The British would have allowed this to happen.

Another conceivable deal for indirect aid to Ukraine by Switzerland is therefore off the table.

Many MPs would have welcomed such a move, including Hans-Peter Portmann. The National Council of the FDP knows what he is talking about: he was the commander of the air defense force with the rank of colonel. “Although the Rapier systems are older, they are still fully operational and accurate,” says Portmann.

It is currently unclear what will happen to the remaining defense guns. Will they be demolished? Armasuisse doesn’t know yet. “Register again in the course of next week”, spokesperson Sievert advises the Zondagsvisie.

Source:Blick