{"id":39412,"date":"2020-09-28T10:37:18","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T10:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/28\/switzerlands-65-billion-fighter-jet-plan-narrowly-passes-referendum\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:05:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:05:59","slug":"switzerlands-65-billion-fighter-jet-plan-narrowly-passes-referendum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2020\/09\/28\/switzerlands-65-billion-fighter-jet-plan-narrowly-passes-referendum\/","title":{"rendered":"Switzerland\u2019s $6.5 billion fighter jet plan narrowly passes referendum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COLOGNE, Germany \u2014 Swiss voters have approved a government plan to spend $6.5 billion on new fighter aircraft by a margin of 8,670 votes, with the two U.S. vendors in the race feeling the backlash of anti-Trump sentiments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday\u2019s vote translates into a razor-thin majority of 50.1 percent, or 1,605,700 votes, in favor of the acquisition. There was 49.9 percent, or 1,597,030 votes, against. The voter turnout was 59.4 percent, according to figures published online Sunday evening by the Federal Chancellery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defence Minister Viola Amherd told reporters she considers the result, however close, a mandate to continue ongoing evaluations of the Eurofighter, the Rafale, the F-18 Super Hornet and the F-35A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe vote represents a long-term investment in the security of the Swiss population and infrastructure,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prodded by reporters about the the narrowness of the vote, she said: \u201cIn a democracy it\u2019s a given that we respect the majority decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Swiss legislature last week approved the budget for the Air 2030 modernization program<\/a>, which includes $6.5 billion for 30-40 new aircraft and $2 billion for a complementary ground-based, air defense system.<\/p>\n\n\n\t