**In July 2021, Switzerland picked the US-made F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft over French Rafale jets for its fighter fleet, an apparent snub for France. As the Swiss government readies for a deal for the F-35 this year, local media reports have exposed a French plan to woo the Swiss in Rafale’s favor.**
France offered Switzerland a financial incentive to purchase French Rafale fighter jets rather than US F-35A aircraft, according to a confidential document obtained by Swiss public broadcaster SRF, reported Swiss Info.
The bartering was still going strong last summer, according to the document discovered by SRF, with France determined to convince Switzerland to change its mind and purchase its Rafale jets despite the latter’s decision to buy the American F-35s.
The Swiss electorate ratified the CHF6 billion ($6.2 billion) F-35A purchase in 2020, a year after receiving parliamentary approval in 2019. However, another popular campaign that targeted the F-35 for its expensive cost was started soon after the referendum that approved the American fighter jet for the Swiss Air Force.
The campaign against F-35 garnered enough support and signatures to hold another referendum against the aircraft. However, the Swiss government announced in May that it would go ahead with the signing of the deal for F-35s without waiting for the results of this referendum.
France reportedly started to build on the resentment against the F-35 in Switzerland, hoping for reconsideration by Geneva. The document that made the offer to the Swiss was signed by the French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on June 28, 2021.
Most people that are against the F35 in Switzerland have no knowledge of the difference in capabilities and most often only hate the F35 because its American. Anti american sentiment has quite drastically increased in Switzerland in the last few years.
The more interesting question is what did Biden offer Switzerland when he was there in person last year just before they announced the F-35 deal? At that point the Rafale seemed like the sure choice but Biden must’ve given them something very juicy.
Ah yes france fucks over first Damen with political pressure in favour of naval group and now wants do the same shit in regard to the F35 with Switzerland. Real allies right here, they have no right to cry about the australian sub deal.
in retaliation I will boycott swiss cheese and chocolate
>Le Maire proposed in the letter to recalibrate a Swiss-French agreement on taxing cross-border workers in favor of Switzerland to an estimated CHF3.5 billion.
>In addition, he pledged France’s support for Switzerland as it negotiated a challenging period in its relations with the European Union. However, this did not influence Switzerland’s viewpoint.
Sounds like he offered everything but a better jet.
I recall a couple months ago the US managed to talk Australia out of honoring their purchase of a submarine from France.
All’s fair in love and war sales.
I would if the entire US will flip the fuck out over this like France did.
Probably not
But that’s stupid, those are 2 very different planes, im not saying Rafale is a bad plane, but picking it over F35 is like saying oh we where gunna buy Javelin ATGMS, but some one offered us a better deal for some Stinger MANPADS, so we take those instead. Like bruh decide what type of weapon you need first, like those things do different things.
11 comments
1
**In July 2021, Switzerland picked the US-made F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft over French Rafale jets for its fighter fleet, an apparent snub for France. As the Swiss government readies for a deal for the F-35 this year, local media reports have exposed a French plan to woo the Swiss in Rafale’s favor.**
France offered Switzerland a financial incentive to purchase French Rafale fighter jets rather than US F-35A aircraft, according to a confidential document obtained by Swiss public broadcaster SRF, reported Swiss Info.
The bartering was still going strong last summer, according to the document discovered by SRF, with France determined to convince Switzerland to change its mind and purchase its Rafale jets despite the latter’s decision to buy the American F-35s.
The Swiss electorate ratified the CHF6 billion ($6.2 billion) F-35A purchase in 2020, a year after receiving parliamentary approval in 2019. However, another popular campaign that targeted the F-35 for its expensive cost was started soon after the referendum that approved the American fighter jet for the Swiss Air Force.
The campaign against F-35 garnered enough support and signatures to hold another referendum against the aircraft. However, the Swiss government announced in May that it would go ahead with the signing of the deal for F-35s without waiting for the results of this referendum.
France reportedly started to build on the resentment against the F-35 in Switzerland, hoping for reconsideration by Geneva. The document that made the offer to the Swiss was signed by the French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on June 28, 2021.
Alternate source: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-fighter-jet-document-reveals-secret-french-tax-offer/47737862
Rafale is a substandard fighter.
Most people that are against the F35 in Switzerland have no knowledge of the difference in capabilities and most often only hate the F35 because its American. Anti american sentiment has quite drastically increased in Switzerland in the last few years.
The more interesting question is what did Biden offer Switzerland when he was there in person last year just before they announced the F-35 deal? At that point the Rafale seemed like the sure choice but Biden must’ve given them something very juicy.
Ah yes france fucks over first Damen with political pressure in favour of naval group and now wants do the same shit in regard to the F35 with Switzerland. Real allies right here, they have no right to cry about the australian sub deal.
in retaliation I will boycott swiss cheese and chocolate
>Le Maire proposed in the letter to recalibrate a Swiss-French agreement on taxing cross-border workers in favor of Switzerland to an estimated CHF3.5 billion.
>In addition, he pledged France’s support for Switzerland as it negotiated a challenging period in its relations with the European Union. However, this did not influence Switzerland’s viewpoint.
Sounds like he offered everything but a better jet.
I recall a couple months ago the US managed to talk Australia out of honoring their purchase of a submarine from France.
All’s fair in love and war sales.
I would if the entire US will flip the fuck out over this like France did.
Probably not
But that’s stupid, those are 2 very different planes, im not saying Rafale is a bad plane, but picking it over F35 is like saying oh we where gunna buy Javelin ATGMS, but some one offered us a better deal for some Stinger MANPADS, so we take those instead. Like bruh decide what type of weapon you need first, like those things do different things.