Switzerland abandons neutrality and prepares for a large-scale war

In a significant shift in its traditional policy of neutrality, Switzerland has decided to acquire the German IRIS-T SLM air defense system as part of an ambitious program to strengthen its defensive capabilities.

This acquisition marks an important step toward greater European military cooperation and represents a change in Switzerland's historical stance, which had avoided any direct involvement in multinational defense initiatives for decades.

The IRIS-T SLM system, manufactured by Diehl Defence, has been selected by the Swiss Defense Procurement Agency (armasuisse) as part of the GBAD MR (Ground-Based Air Defence Medium Range) project.

This initiative aims to replace outdated current systems such as the Stinger and medium-range anti-aircraft artillery, which are clearly insufficient against modern aerial threats like cruise missiles and next-generation fighter jets.

The purchase, which includes between four and five IRIS-T SLM systems, is backed by a credit of 660 million Swiss francs approved in the 2024 armament program.

The final contract is expected to be signed in the third quarter of 2025, after completing a practical familiarization phase with the system between March and April of that year. During that period, the Swiss army successfully tested the TRML-4D radar in complex environments such as the Homberg test range and the Emmen airfield.

This move is part of Switzerland's participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), a multinational platform led mainly by Germany to establish a layered air and missile defense over the continent.

Although Switzerland is not a member of NATO or the European Union, its involvement in this initiative reflects a clear willingness to align strategically with Europe on security matters.

The IRIS-T SLM has been tested in real combat in Ukraine, where it has proven to be highly effective against a wide range of aerial threats, which has raised its profile among European countries. The system provides 360-degree coverage, can intercept targets up to 40 km away and 20 km in altitude, and features high-precision infrared guidance resistant to electronic countermeasures.

This defensive reinforcement will also be complemented by the future acquisition of Patriot systems, creating a layered defense network that will cover threats from low altitude to long-range missiles.

Together, these decisions reflect an important doctrinal shift: Switzerland is no longer limiting its defense to the traditional boundaries of strict neutrality, but is positioning itself within a logic of European collective defense, although without committing militarily to external conflicts.

Meanwhile, the Swiss company RUAG MRO has been authorized to sell 71 Leopard 1 tanks to Germany, although with the explicit condition that they not be sent to Ukraine.

This decision, made by the federal government, relaxes the application of Swiss laws on the export of war material, which prohibit transfers to countries in armed conflict. Although Germany doesn't need a Swiss export license, the restriction on re-exporting to Ukraine underscores that Switzerland still keeps certain legal limits to its neutrality.

Nevertheless, these moves reveal a progressive redefinition of the concept of neutrality, where national defense and technological cooperation with European allies are prioritized over traditional isolation.