Switzerland to begin testing air defence bids
Two downselected bids being offered for Switzerland’s long-range air defence system requirement are due to undergo testing by armasuisse in collaboration with the Swiss army in coming months, which will assess the radar detection performance of each of the systems.
These will take place in August and September in Gubel in Menzingen, and will assess the Patriot system developed by Raytheon and the SAMP/Tdeveloped by the Eurosam consortium, testing the detection capability of the offerings.
They will both have two weeks respectively to demonstrate the performance of the radars in each, which will then be verified by the government.
This acquisition programme is dubbed DSA – or ground-to-air defence – and falls under Switzerland’s Air2030 effort.
It aims to acquire a new long-range air defence system, and will fill the gap left after the Bloodhound guided missile system was decommissioned in 2000.
Raytheon and Eurosam submitted their respective proposals in March 2019 in response to requirements issued by the Swiss government in March 2018.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
China’s airborne force receives next-gen infantry fighting vehicles
Some amendments address weaknesses proven in the Ukraine conflict.
-
Australian Army experiments with UGVs, but seeks understanding before proliferation
The Australian Army is exploring the options and benefits of a wide range of UGVs.
-
British Army programme cuts could continue in 2025
The six-month old Labour leadership in the UK has already made cuts and army programmes could be on the chopping block in 2025. Where might the axe fall?
-
NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet
VAMTAC vehicles are expected to replace one-quarter of New Zealand’s Pinzgauers and Unimogs.