GENEVA 

Switzerland is considering a European alternative to the US-made Patriot air defense system after Washington postponed delivery of five missile batteries, local media reported Monday.

The delay comes as the United States prioritizes supplying Ukraine, leaving uncertainty over if Switzerland will receive the Patriot systems it ordered.

According to the Swissinfo report, Bern is examining the Medium Range/Land-based Surface-to-Air Defence System (SAMP/T), developed by a Franco-Italian consortium under the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation. The system is seen as one of the few credible European alternatives to the Patriot.

Manufacturers have indicated they could deliver the SAMP/T by 2029 if Switzerland places an order now, according to the NZZ am Sonntag.

Political frustration is growing across party lines. Green Party parliamentarian Clarence Chollet told the report he viewed “this European alternative very favorably,” adding that the Patriot system “will not arrive in Switzerland for years, or perhaps not at all.”

The Swiss defense ministry has not ruled out a shift. Robert Scheidegger, deputy secretary general of the ministry, said the government would discuss the issue in the Federal Council before making any decision public.

However, abandoning the US deal could carry financial and diplomatic risks. Switzerland has already paid about CHF700 million ($770 million) as a down payment, the report noted. Swiss People’s Party lawmaker Mauro Tuena warned that withdrawing from the contract could trigger penalties and might need to be offset against Switzerland’s planned purchase of US-made F-35 fighter jets.

It remains unclear whether the Patriot systems will be delivered by 2030 and at what cost.