Delivery of air-to-air guided missiles AIM-120 C-7

 

(photos/text via Armasuisse)

Bern, 16.05.2023 - armasuisse has accepted a further delivery of the radar-guided missiles model AIM-120 C-7 approved with the 2017 armament programme. The transport took place today on board an US Air Force Lockheed C-130J. The aircraft landed at the Payerne Military Air Base in the morning.

The delivered radar-air-to-air-guided missile AIM-120 C-7 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) is a latest generation model. It is intended for the armament of the combat aircraft F/A-18 of the Swiss Air Force and replaces and supplements in part the predecessor model AIM-120 B purchased with the 1992 (RP92) armament programme.
The guided missile will be primarily used at distances outside the field of vision and is capable of engaging with the target in all weather conditions. It has a data link to the F/A-18 carrier aircraft for the target briefing in the first flying phase as well as via own radar – what is known as the seeker head – for independent detection or tracking of the target in the final flying phase. The new radar-guided missile of the Swiss Air Force is in use in large numbers in the US armed forces and other air forces.

The delivered guided missiles are a part of the project approved with the 2017 Armed Forces dispatch “Extension of the period of use of F/A-18 combat aircraft”. In addition to the guided missiles, other procurements will be carried out in this project, such as

• replacement and renewal of communications systems and night vision aiming devices and adjustments to the aircraft software
• a structural reorganisation programme
• adjustments to simulators as well as
• a logistics package
  

The overall package approved by Parliament has a volume of 450 million Swiss Francs.

The number of ordered AIM-120 C-7 guided missiles is classified as confidential military information.
In Switzerland, the armament of the F/A-18C/D combat aircraft consists of a radar-guided missile for medium distances (AIM-120 C-7 AMRAAM), an infrared guided missile for short distances (AIM-9X) and a 20-mm on-board gun.
The ordered AIM-120 C-7 guided missiles can also be used by the F-35A after decommissioning of the F/A-18.

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Address for enquiries

Kaj-Gunnar Sievert
Head of Communications armasuisse
+41 58 464 62 47

Air2030: Second proposals for new fighter aircraft and extended-range ground-based air defence systems received

 (press release text - source) 

Bern, 18.11.2020 - The government authorities of the potential candidates for a new fighter aircraft (NFA) and an extended-range ground-based air defence system (Bodluv GR) submitted their second proposal to armasuisse on November 18, 2020. With that, armasuisse starts to work on the evaluation reports, which are planned to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.

On November 18, 2020, armasuisse received the second proposals for new fighter aircraft from the government authorities of the four potential manufacturers: Germany (Airbus Eurofighter), France (Dassault Rafale) and the USA (Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and Lockheed-Martin F-35A). In the second request for proposal, the companies contacted via the government authorities were requested to submit the most advantageous proposal for Switzerland.

The proposals include the following elements:

• prices for 36 and 40 aircraft, including defined logistics and weapons, as a binding starting point for the detailed negotiations with the selected candidate after the type selection

• offers for cooperation between the armed forces and the procurement authorities of Switzerland and those of the supplier country

• envisaged or already initiated offset projects

New extended-range ground-based air defence system

On November 18, 2020, armasuisse received the second proposals for extended-range ground-based air defence systems from the government authorities of the two potential manufacturers: France (Eurosam SAMP/T) and the USA (Raytheon Patriot). As with the new fighter aircraft, the companies contacted via the government authorities were requested to submit the most advantageous proposal for Switzerland..

The offers include the following elements:

• price for extended-range ground-based defence systems capable of covering at least 15,000 km2, including defined logistics and weapons, as a binding starting point for the detailed negotiations with the selected candidate after the type selection

• offers for cooperation between the armed forces and the procurement authorities of Switzerland and those of the supplier country

• envisaged or already initiated offset projects

Next steps in the Air2030 programme

The overall benefit of each system will be determined using the information from the second proposal and the findings from the various testing activities. The results, together with a comprehensive risk analysis, will feed into the evaluation report, where the overall benefit of the new fighter aircraft and the new extended-range ground-based air defence system will be set against the costs of procurement and 30 years of operation. The evaluation reports are planned to be concluded in the 1st quarter of 2021. The type selection by the Federal Council is planned for both systems in the 2nd quarter of 2021.

Address for enquiries

Kaj-Gunnar Sievert

Head of Communications armasuisse

+41 58 464 62 47

Payerne closed for runway works, like every summer. June 2nd 'till July 3rd, 2020

Like every year the military airfields in switzerland closes down for some weeks for maintenance works on runway and installations.

The main base Payerne will be closed from June 2nd 'till July 3rd, 2020.

QRA/Air Defence (LPD24) from 0600-2200h LT will be executed out of Meiringen during this time, together with nearly all flights with F-18 Hornet.

WEF 2020 - Air Policy above Davos

In 2020, the armed forces will once again support the civilian authorities in the canton of Graubünden in carrying out security tasks in connection with the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Parliament approved the deployment of a maximum of 5,000 soldiers on these civil affairs support operations from 2019 until 2021. The 2020 WEF meeting will be held from 17 to 27 January.


Main base for the combat ready jets is Payerne LSMP (1st ALT is LSMM, 2nd ALT is LSMS) again and the 25 nautical miles flight restrictions above Davos are on the following dates:

January 17th, 2020 from 1300-1700h LT (training)
January 20th from 0800h LT continuosly 'till January 25th, 1700 LT (hot)

Some Pilatus (NC)PC-7 will be flying out of Samedan airport during training day and the hot mission.

More informations: https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/aktuell/einsaetze-und-operationen/sse/wef.html

Some impressions of Air Policy from other years 

World Economic Forum Davos 2019 - restrictions and activity

In 2019, the armed forces will once again support the civilian authorities in the canton of Graubünden in carrying out security tasks in connection with the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Parliament approved the deployment of a maximum of 5,000 soldiers on these civil affairs support operations from 2019 until 2021. The 2019 WEF meeting will be held from 18 to 28 January.

Main base for our military fighter jets supporting the WEF with CAP's in Switzerland is PAYERNE (LSMP), second is Meiringen (LSMM) !

Air traffic in the Davos area is restricted during the 2019 World Economic Forum (GND to FL195).


Air traffic over Swiss, Austrian and Liechtenstein territory within a radius of 25 nautical miles (approx. 46 km) of the centre of Davos will be restricted from 21 to 26 January 2019. Special rules and procedures that have been worked out by the Swiss Air Force and the Federal Office for Civil Aviation must be observed for approaches to and departures from regional airfields and heliports. Only specified visual flight routes may be flown. All these flights will be subject to authorisation; accreditation of both pilots and aircraft is required for authorisation.

Flights outside the specified routes and flights to Davos also require authorisation, which will only be granted to pilots and aircraft that have been accredited beforehand. Even after accreditation, a request must be made to the air force for every flight. The air force will then decide whether to grant or refuse permission in accordance with requirements and security considerations. Detailed instructions can be found in official publications

The Swiss Air Force will support the civilian authorities with air transport and surveillance flights using helicopters, propeller planes and combat aircraft. Therefore, a considerable increase in military air movements even beyond the canton of Graubünden is to be expected.

As air traffic includes not only helicopters and aeroplanes, all other airspace users are also subject to restrictions that come into force on 21 January 2019. The regulations for model aircraft, UAVs, delta and paragliders are issued by the Graubünden cantonal police.


Restriction times: Monday, 21 January 2019, from 8am local time
until latest Saturday, 26 January 2019, 5pm local time

Swiss Air Force's QRA boost it's capacity in 2019

Today is a new big step in Swiss Air Forces Quick Reaction Alert system called Luftpolizeidienst24 (LPD24) - every day in between 0600-2200LT two armed F/A-18 Hornet aircrafts are ready for takeoff in less than 15 minutes. Full day capacity will be available end of 2020.
For us aviation geeks and photographs interesting is the additional night flights planned on wednesday evening, so two times a week now (normal night flight training monday or tuesday (meteo)).

First Night-mission of the Swiss Air Force QRA

Today very early morning, 0326h local time, two Hornets take off from our main base Payerne LSMP. Another test of the availability and procedures - normally our QRA is not yet ready at this time of the day but 2021:

Press bulletin

Erster Start bei Nacht ist gelungen

Die Einsatzbereitschaft im Luftpolizeidienst wird bis Ende 2020 kontinuierlich ausgebaut. Ab dann werden während 365 Tagen rund um die Uhr zwei bewaffnete Flugzeuge einsatzbereit sein. Im Januar 2017 ist die Bereitschaft auf 365 Tage – also auch an Wochenenden und Feiertagen – von 8.00 bis 18.00 Uhr erweitert worden. Vom 3. bis 4. September 2018 hat die Luftwaffe eine noch längere Bereitschaft im Luftpolizeidienst angeordnet.

Das Projekt Luftpolizeidienst 24 (LP24) hat zum Ziel, die permanente Bereitschaft an 365 Tagen während 24 Stunden bis Ende 2020 zu erreichen. In der aktuellen Phase der Umsetzung ist die normale Bereitschaft von 8.00 bis 18.00 Uhr an 365 Tagen vorgesehen. In der Nacht vom 3. auf den 4. September 2018 wurde jedoch Bereitschaft angeordnet. Zum ersten Mal starteten zwei F/A-18 um 3.30 Uhr.

Ziel dieser Übung ist es, wertvolle Erkenntnisse für die Umsetzung der nächsten Phasen erhöhter Bereitschaft zu gewinnen und so die ersten Lehren aus einem Flugdienst bei Nacht zu ziehen. Ab dem 1. Januar 2019 wird die Bereitschaft des Luftpolizeidienstes auf die Zeiten von 6.00 bis 22.00 Uhr an 365 Tagen erhöht.

Motion aus dem Jahr 2009

Das Projekt LP24 geht auf eine Motion von alt Ständerat Hans Hess (FDP/OW) aus dem Jahr 2009 zurück. Darin forderte er eine erhöhte Bereitschaft im Luftpolizeidienst auch ausserhalb der normalen Arbeitszeiten. Mit LP24 wird nun in vier Schritten eine permanente Einsatzbereitschaft von zwei bewaffneten Kampfjets innert höchstens 15 Minuten erreicht.

Payerne Air Force Base Open Doors, 2018

More then 5000 people from all of Switzerland and abroad - dutch, french and german cars is what I saw - visited the main base due Open Door exposition and Airshow today.
With introduction of all the jobs you can learn and work on an Swiss Air Force Base, the exposition saw many interesting work places.
And there was an little airshow too - Swiss Air Force Hornet Demo Team, Super Puma Display Team and fire/SAR demo was sheduled - Patrouille Suisse visited for an flybye too. The most interesting new demo was an QRA / Air Policy Demonstration of two Hornets versus an (NC)PC-7. Let's hope such a demo is standard in the future ;)

Article in German with other pictures by me ;)

June 21st, 2018: Pope visits Geneva - strenghtened Air Police

Swiss Air Force will reinforce the Air Police LPD24 during the visit in Geneva. The Pope will held a mess with  41'000 places (already sold out). Up to 200 soldiers for medical help and logistics are ready.

Temporary Flight Restrictions 21.06.2018:
- from 0900-2100h LT on the line Geneva Airport–Bogis-Bossey, Radius of 10 nautical miles
- for helicopters and small aircrafts (normal traffic for GVA is permitted)

Link

Restriction zone - http://staysafe.bazl.admin.ch/besuch-papst-franziskus-in-genf-einschraenkungen-des-luftraumesvisite-de-pape-francois-a-geneve-creation-dune-zone-reglementee/

On other international events in the area (G8 summit 2003, Francophonie summit 2010), an participation of the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) and a mixed CAP (Combat Air Patrol) was installed. This is not yet discussed for the pope.

36 hours of QRA - another long endurance test in Payerne

For testing the operability, Payerne held already the fourth 36h testdrive for the QRA from March 20th 0800h LT 'till 21st 2000h LT, 2018.
Swiss Quick Reaction Alert is called Luftpolizeidienst 24 (LPD24) and put two armed F/A-18 Hornet on permanent 15mins Readiness from 0800h-1800h LT. The Readiness will be increased to 0600-2200h in 2019 and at the end of 2020 it will be permanent 24h/365d.
Payerne is the main base for the QRA, please ignore the 'wrong' picture (taken in Sion) on the official media release:

World Economic Forum 2018 - last WEF-CAP out of Meiringen

This years's World Economic Forum saw a lot of US american gear arriving with the actual president. Swiss Air Force guarded the sky above Davos with Hornets out of Meiringen and Payerne, in the future only Payerne will host this kind of live missions due political and logistical reasons.
Snowy mountains and blue sky made it easy to succeed in nice photos, here some of mine. Have fun 🌞

next possible threat in sight

GE Power

changed priorities

dangerous beasts ready to rumble