Switzerland’s First F-35 Jet Assembled.

Switzerland has reached a major milestone in its defence modernization program as assembly begins on its first F-35 fighter jet at the Lockheed Martin production facility in Georgia, United States. The development marks the start of physical production for Swiss-bound aircraft under the country’s new air defence procurement plan.

According to armasuisse, production of key components for Switzerland’s F-35 fleet has already started, with further assembly stages planned over the coming months. The global production chain involves more than 2,100 subcontractors, highlighting the international scale of the fighter jet program.

The first batch of eight F-35 aircraft will initially be used for pilot training purposes in the United States. Swiss pilots are expected to begin training with these jets in Arkansas from mid-2027, allowing them to gain operational experience before the aircraft are delivered to Switzerland.

Full delivery of the fighter jets to Switzerland is scheduled to begin approximately one year after the training phase starts. Additional aircraft will be completed and delivered from the final assembly line located in Cameri, Italy, ensuring a structured rollout of the fleet.

The F-35 program represents a significant upgrade for the Swiss Air Force, strengthening the country’s long-term air defence capabilities through advanced stealth technology, modern avionics, and multinational production cooperation.