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List of aircraft of the Swiss Air Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Since its formation, the Swiss Air Force has used a number of different aircraft.

Detailed list of current inventory

Fixed-wing aircraft

More information Model, Variant ...
Model Variant Image Origin Type Quantity acquired In service since Quantity in 2025 Notes
Combat aircraft
F/A-18 Hornet F/A-18C United States

 Switzerland

 Multirole combat aircraft 26 1997[1] 25[2] Acquired with the Armament Programme 1992.[3]

26 ordered, 1 aircraft assembled in the US, 25 in Switzerland.

1 lost in a crash in 2016.[4]

F-5 Tiger F-5E Tiger II

United States

 Switzerland

 Light fighter 98 1978[5] 15[6] Acquisitions:[5]
  • 66 ordered in 1975
  • 32 ordered in 1981

A part of the fleet was made under licence in Switzerland.

Among the 18 operational, 6 are in use with the Patrouille Suisse as of 2025.[7]

60 Sold to the USA:

  • 44 in 2008 to the US Navy[5][8]
  • 16 sold in 2020, first delivery in 2024 (E variant)[9]

11 were lost in crashes.[10]

Transport aircraft
Pilatus PC-6 Porter PC-6M  Switzerland STOL, single-engine, turboprop, transport aircraft 18[11] 1967[11] 14[12] [11]
  • 12 manufactured in 1966[13]
  • 6 manufactured in 1975[13]
Bombardier Challenger 600 series Challenger 604 Canada VIP transport aircraft, or MEDEVAC 2 2019[11] 2[12] Aircraft operated by the Federal Air Transport Service.

The aircraft were purchased second hand from the REGA.[14]

VIP transport aircraft
Dassault Falcon 900 900EX France VIP transport aircraft 1 2013[15] 1[16] Aircraft operated by the Federal Air Transport Service.
Bombardier Global Express Global 7500 Canada VIP transport aircraft 1 2024[17] 1[18] Aircraft operated by the Federal Air Transport Service.[17]

Successor of the Cessna Citation Excel 560XL, ordered in August 2023.[19]

Trainer aircraft
Pilatus PC-7 PC-7 WE

 Switzerland Basic trainer 40[20] 1982[20] 27[12] 40 purchased and entered service in the 1980s.

9 aircraft used by the PC-7 Team since 1989.

Modernisations:

  • 28 to the NCPC-7 standard in 2011[21][22]
  • 27 being modernised as of 2024 by RUAG to the standard PC-7 WE[23][24]
Pilatus PC-21 —

 Switzerland Advanced training aircraft, and

Lead-in fighter trainer

 8 2008[25] 7[12] Orders:
  • 6 with the Armament programme 2006[26]
  • 2 with the Armament Programme 2010[27][26]

Mid-life update contract in 2020 and done by 2024.[27]

The A-105 was damaged in 2023.[28]

F-5 Tiger F-5F Tiger II

United States

 Switzerland

 Conversion training aircraft 12 1978[5] 4[12] Acquisitions:[5]
  • 6 ordered in 1975
  • 6 ordered in 1981

A part of the fleet was made under licence in Switzerland.

Resale:[5]

  • 6 sold in 2020 (F variant)[9]
F/A-18 Hornet F/A-18D United States

 Switzerland

 Conversion training aircraft 8 1997[1] 5[12] Acquired with the Armament Programme 1992.[3]

8 ordered, 1 aircraft assembled in the US, 7 in Switzerland.

3 lost in crashes:

  • 1 in March 1998[29]
  • 1 in October 2013[30]
  • 1 in October 2015[31]
Special role aircraft
Beechcraft Super King Air Model 350C Super King Air United States Cartography / mapping aircraft

(transport aircraft as secondary role)

 1 1993[32] 1[12] Operated by the air force, for Swisstopo.[33][34]
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter DHC-6-300 Canada Cartography / mapping aircraft

(transport aircraft as secondary role)

 1 1976[35] 1[12] Operated by the air force, for Swisstopo.[36]

New sensor since 2017, the ADS100.

Armasuisse test aircraft
Diamond DA42 DA42 Centaur OPA Germany

United States

 Test aircraft 1 2012[37] 1[38][12] Aircraft operated by Armasuisse.[38]

Optionally piloted aircraft developed by Aurora Flight Sciences (US company), usable as ISR aircraft.

Used for flight trials in profit of the ADS 15 UAV.

Pilatus PC-6 Porter —  Switzerland Test aircraft

(transport aircraft as secondary role)

 1 1967[38] 1[38] Aircraft operated by Armasuisse.[38]

Used for transmission trials, for flight data registration.

Pilatus PC-12 PC-12M  Switzerland Test aircraft

(transport aircraft as secondary role)

 1 2001[38] 1[38] Aircraft operated by Armasuisse.[38]

Test aircraft for the FLORAKO system.

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Rotary-wing aircraft

More information Model, Variant ...
Model Variant Image Origin Type Quantity acquired In service since Quantity in 2025 Notes
Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma

Swiss designation: TH 89/06

 AS 332M1 France Transport / utility helicopter 15 1987 13[12] [39]

Acquisitions:

MLU by RUAG with the Armament Programme 2006, entered service between 2012 and 2014.[43][44]

AS 332M1 Super Puma FLIR

Forward looking infrared

 T-311 with FLIRT-314 with FLIRT-321 with FLIRT-323 with FLIR France SAR helicopter

Search and rescue

 0 2013 1[12] MLU by RUAG with the Armament Programme 2006, entered service in 2013.[45][46][44]
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar

Swiss designation: TH 98/18

 AS532UL Cougar Mk1[47]

France

 Switzerland

 Transport / utility helicopter 12 2002 8[12] Ordered with the Armament Programme 1998.[48][40]

2 made by Eurocopter, 10 assembled by RUAG.[49]

Losses:

MLU by RUAG with the Armament Programme 2018, all 9 delivered by 2022.[52][53]

VIP Transport helicopter 1[12]
Eurocopter EC635

Swiss designation: TH 05

 EC635 P2+ Germany

 Switzerland

 Transport / utility / trainer / SAR 20[54] 2008[54] 17[12] Purchased with the Armamament Programme 2005.[55][54]

2 of the 18 made in Germany, 16 assembled by RUAG.[54][56]

A helicopter was lost in 2024.[57]

 Germany VIP Transport helicopter 2[12] Purchased with the Armamament Programme 2005.[55]

It is operated by the Federal Air Transport Service.[54]

(Registration T-351 / T-352)

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Future aircraft

More information Model, Variant ...
Model Variant Image Origin Type Quantity acquired In service since Quantity in 2025 Notes
Combat aircraft
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II F-35A Block 4

(TR-3 - technological refresh 3)

 United States

Italy

 Switzerland

 Command vehicle 36[12] 2027[58]

(with the batch 18)

 0[12] Selected in June 2021 as part of the Air 2030 Programme.[59] The contract was signed in September 2022.[60]

Planned production:[61]

  • 4 to 8 by LM in the USA
  • 24 to 28 by Leonardo in Italy
  • 4 by RUAG in Switzerland

The order is part o the batch 18.

UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles)
Elbit Hermes 900 ADS 15 Israel

 Switzerland

 Fixed-wing UAV, ISR

Unmanned aerial vehicle, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

 6 2026 3[62] [63]

Successor of the ADS 95. Order to Elbit and RUAG as part of the Armament Programme 2015.[64]

First two delivered in 2023 for trial.[65] Order of the last four confirmed in September 2025.[66]

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Planned investments

More information Programme, Models ...
Programme Models Image Origin Type Quantity planned In service since Notes
Replacement of the AS532 Cougar and the AS332 Super Puma AW139 Italy

 Switzerland

 Medium transport helicopter — 2028 -- 2035 To be ordered with an Armament Program from 2028 to 2035.[67][68]
AW149 Italy
H175 France

Germany

H225M France
NH90 France

Germany

Italy

Netherlands

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Retired aircraft

Fixed-wing aircraft

More information Combat aircraft, Reconnaissance ...
Model Variant Origin Type Role Entered service in
(year)		 Retired in
(year)		 Quantity Notes
Combat aircraft
Dassault Mirage III IIIS France

 Switzerland (licence)

 Second generation jet fighter Lightweight interceptor 1964 1999 36 [69][70][71][72]
Hawker Hunter Mk 58 United Kingdom First generation jet fighter Fighter 1963 1994 100 [73][74]
Mk 58A Fighter-bomber 1972 1994 52 Second-hand purchased from the UK.
de Havilland Venom D.H.112 Mk 1 United Kingdom

 Switzerland (licence)

 First generation jet fighter Fighter-bomber / night fighter 1953 1984 126 [78][79]
D.H.112 Mk 4 1956 1984 100 [78][80]
P-51 Mustang P-51D United States Fighter aircraft Interceptor / fighter-bomber 1948 1957 113 [81]
de Havilland Vampire D.H.110 Vampire Mk. 6 United Kingdom First generation jet fighter Fighter / fighter-bomber / night fighter 1949 1990 75 Orders:
United Kingdom

 Switzerland (licence)

 1951 1990 100 100 ordered in 1950,[82][84] 3 assembled from spare parts in 1960[82][85]
Messerschmitt Bf 109 Bf 109 D-1 Germany Low-wing monoplane Fighter

(training as secondary role)

 1939 1949 10 [86][87]
Bf 109 E-1 / E-3a Germany Low-wing monoplane Fighter 1939 1948 80 Orders:[88]
Bf 109 E-3a Germany

 Switzerland (licence)

 Low-wing monoplane Fighter 1944 1948 9 1 made from spare parts, 8 made under licence in Switzerland[88][90]
Bf 109 G-6 Germany Low-wing monoplane Fighter 1944 1948 14 12 in 1944, 1 in 1945, 1 in 1946[91]
Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 MS.406H France

 Switzerland (licence)

 Low-wing monoplane Fighter 1939 1956 322[92]
Potez 25 France Biplane Light bomber 1938 1944 2 [93][94]
Dewoitine D.27 D.27 lll-R  Switzerland Monoplane fighter Interceptor 1932 1944 15 [95]
Dewoitine D.27 D.27 lll France

 Switzerland (licence)

 Monoplane fighter Interceptor 1931 1944 65 [96]
Hanriot HD.1 — France Biplane Fighter and combat trainer 1921 1930 16 Bought second-hand from Italy[97]
Nieuport 28 C-1 Baby France Biplane Fighter and combat trainer 1918 1930 15 [98]
Reconnaissance
Dassault Mirage III IIIRS France

 Switzerland (licence)

 Second generation jet fighter Aerial reconnaissance 1968 2003 18 [99][100][72][101]
Beechcraft Twin Bonanza E 50 United States Twin-engine, low-wing monoplane Liaison aircraft 1957 1989 3 [102][101]
de Havilland Venom D.H.112 Mk 1R United Kingdom

 Switzerland (licence)

 First generation jet fighter Aerial reconnaissance 1956 1984 24 [78][103]
P-51D Mustang F-6D and F-6K United States Fighter aircraft Aerial reconnaissance 1948 1957 15 [81]
Piper Super Cub United States observation 1948 1975 6[104]
EKW C-36  Switzerland reconnaissance 1942 1987 160[105]
Fieseler Fi 156 Germany observation 1940 1963 5[106]
Messerschmitt Bf 108 Germany communications 1938 1959 18[107]
EKW C-35  Switzerland reconnaissance 1937 1954 160[108]
Fokker C.V Netherlands reconnaissance 1927 1954 64[109]
Potez 25 France Biplane Observation / reconnaissance 1927 1940 17[93]
Häfeli DH-5  Switzerland reconnaissance 1922 1940 80[110]
Häfeli DH-3  Switzerland reconnaissance 1917 1939 109[110]
Häfeli DH-1  Switzerland reconnaissance 1916 1919 6[110]
Dornier Do 27 Germany communications 2005 3[101]
Military transport
Junkers Ju 52 Ju 52/3m g4e [de] Germany Transport aircraft Military transport 1939 1981 3 [111][112]
Beechcraft Model 18 C18S United States Transport Military transport 1952 1967 1 [113]
Beechcraft Model 18 C-45F Expeditor United States Transport Military transport 1948 1969 2 [113]
Siebel Si 204 — Germany Transport Military transport 1945 1955 1 [114][115]
Messerschmitt M 18 M 18C Germany Transport Military transport 1929 1954 2 [116]
Messerschmitt M 18 M 18D Germany Transport Military transport 1935 1954 1 [116]
VIP Transport
Pilatus PC-24 —  Switzerland Business jet VIP 2019 2022 1 Purchased new, sold to JoyVida International.[117][118]
Cessna Citation Excel 560XL United States Business jet VIP 2013 2025 1 [119][120]
Dassault Falcon 900 900EX France Business jet VIP 2013 2025 1 Second-hand from Monaco.[15][121]
Beechcraft 1900 1900D United States Business jet VIP 2007 2020 1 Replaced by two CL604.[122][123]
Dassault Falcon 50 — France Business jet VIP 1996 2013 1 Second-hand.[124]

Replaced by the Falcon 900EX.[119][125]

Learjet 35 Learjet 35A United States Business jet VIP 1988 2006 2 [126][101]
Trainer aircraft
BAE Hawk Hawk 66 United Kingdom

 Switzerland (assembly)

 Jet aircraft Advanced training 1990 2002 20 Ordered in 1987.[127][128]

18 sold to Finland in 2007.[129]

Dassault Mirage III IIIDS France Second generation jet fighter Conversion trainer 1983 2003 2 Replacing 2 IIIBS lost by Switzerland.[130][131]
Hawker Hunter Mk 68 United Kingdom

 Switzerland (licence)

 Jet aircraft Conversion trainer 1976 1994 8 Based on Mk58A purchased second-hand from the UK. Transformed by Eidgenössisches Flugzeugwerk [de] to twin-seat trainer.[132][75]
Dassault Mirage III IIIBS France

 Switzerland (licence)

 Second generation jet fighter Conversion trainer (interceptor) 1964 2003 4 The 2 were lost in training[130][133]
de Havilland Vampire D.H.115 Mk 11 United Kingdom Jet aircraft Conversion trainer 1953 1990 3 [134][82]
D.H.115 Mk 55 1956 1990 36 Orders:[82]
Pilatus P-3 P-3/03  Switzerland Low-wing monoplane Basic trainer 1957 1992 12[138]
P-3/05 1959 1992 60[138]
P-51D Mustang TP-51D United States Fighter aircraft Conversion trainer 1948 1957 2 [81]
Pilatus P-2 P-2/06  Switzerland Low-wing monoplane Advanced training 1949 1981 26 26 made between 1948 and 1950[139]
P-2/05 1947 1981 26 26 made between 1946 and 1948[140]
North American T-6 Texan AT-16 Harvard IIB Canada Low-wing monoplane IFR training aircraft 1948 1968 40 [141]
Nardi FN.315 — Italy Low-wing monoplane Combat trainer 1944 1948 2 First crashed immediately.[142]
Bücker Bü 133 Germany Biplane Combat trainer 1937 1968 52 [143]
Bücker Bü 131 Germany Biplane Combat trainer 1936 1971 94 [143]
Dewoitine D.26 France

 Switzerland (licence)

 High-wing monoplane Combat trainer 1931 1948 11 [144][145]
Morane-Saulnier MS.229 ET2 France High-wing monoplane Combat trainer 1931 1941 2 [146]
Nieuport 28 France Biplane Combat trainer 1917 1921 5 [147]
Special role aircraft
Pilatus PC-9 PC-9/F  Switzerland Low-wing turpoprop Target tug trainer 1988 2022 12[46] 4 remained in service until 2010[148]
Dassault Mirage III Mirage IIIC France Second generation jet fighter Evaluation aircraft / test aircraft 1962 1978 1 Used for evaluation, then for testing by F+W Emmen[149][70]
de Havilland Vampire D.H.113 NF Mk 10 United Kingdom First generation jet fighter Test aircraft / night fighter 1958 1961 1 Radar fighter testing[150]
D.H.100 Mk 1 United Kingdom First generation jet fighter Test aircraft / target tug trainer 1946 1961 4 [82][151]
Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Fw-44F Stieglitz Germany Biplane Test aircraft / glider towing 1945 1953 1 [152]
de Havilland Mosquito United Kingdom Low-wing, twin-engine aircraft multi-role fighter Test aircraft 1944 1954 2 [153]
Dewoitine D.27 — France Monoplane fighter Test aircraft / development 1928 1936 1 [154]
UAVs
RUAG Ranger ADS-95 —  Switzerland Fixed wing drone ISR 2001 2019 28 [155][156]
F+W ADS-90 —  Switzerland Fixed wing drone Surveillance 1990 1998 6 [157]
Farner KZD-85 —  Switzerland Fixed wing drone Target drone 1985 2022 70 [158]
Beechcraft MQM-61 Cardinal KDB-1 United States Fixed wing drone Target drone 1962 1965 10 [159]
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Rotary-wing aircraft

More information Helicopters ...
Model Variant Origin Type Role Entered service in
(year)		 Retired in
(year)		 Quantity Notes
Helicopters
Hiller UH-12 UH-12B United States Helicopter Observation 1952 1962 3 [160][161]
Sud-Ouest Djinn — France Helicopter Light utility 1958 1964 4 [162][163]
Aérospatiale Alouette II — France Helicopter Utility / SAR 1959 2012 30
  • 10 purchased in 1958[164]
  • 20 purchased in 1964[164]
Aérospatiale Alouette III — France

 Switzerland

 Helicopter Utility / liaison 1964 2010 84 Replaced by the Eurocopter EC635.[165]
  • 9 ordered in 1964, made by Sud Aviation[166]
  • 15 purchased in 1966[166]
  • 60 ordered in 1972, made under licence by Flugzeugwerke Emmen[166]

14 lost in accidents.[167]

AS365 Dauphin SA 365 N1 France Helicopter VIP 1984 2009 1 Aircraft purchased to the standard SA365 N.[168]
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