Switzerland Advances Towards Joining European Anti-Missile Shield Initiated by Germany.

Launched in October 2022 by Germany under the auspices of NATO, the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) aims to bolster air and missile defense across Europe. This project involves pooling defensive capability acquisitions among the seventeen nations that have expressed their intention to participate, as reported by an excellent article from Opex 360 on April 10, 2024.
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The ESSI aims for better coordination and, if possible, consolidation of air defense system purchases in Europe. (Picture source: US DoD)

The system features a multi-layered air defense including Diehl Defence's IRIS-T SLM, the Arrow 3 system developed by Israel with US support, and the Patriot PAC-3. The Franco-Italian SAMP/T project was not selected, leading neither France nor Italy to join the initiative.

A year after its launch, ten countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Slovenia, signed a memorandum of understanding to affirm their commitment to this anti-missile shield. Switzerland is expected to join them soon.

In July 2023, Austria and Switzerland, traditionally neutral, showed interest in the ESSI. (European Sky Shield Initiative) Swiss neutrality entails non-participation in armed conflicts and no defensive alliances. However, in the event of an attack, Switzerland could defend itself with other countries' help, rendering its neutrality obligations null and void, according to the Federal Department of Defense.

Ten months after this declaration, the Swiss government took a further step by approving the "declaration of accession to the memorandum of understanding" on public procurement cooperation on April 10.

The ESSI aims for better coordination and, if possible, consolidation of air defense system purchases in Europe to save costs and improve interoperability, the Federal Council recalled. For Bern, this also involves coordinating training and logistics in air defense. Despite signing the declaration, Switzerland retains the freedom to choose its level of participation in the project and the systems it wishes to acquire.

As part of its Air 2030 program, Switzerland had already purchased the Patriot PAC-3 system for $1.2 billion in March 2023. With this acquisition, Switzerland joins a vast international community benefiting from cooperation and cost-sharing.

The IRIS-T Surface Launched Medium Range (SLM) is a ground-based version of the air-to-air IRIS-T missile developed by the German company Diehl Defence. This system is designed to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles, and other medium-range projectiles. It is particularly valued for its ability to engage targets with high precision due to its infrared homing, making it less vulnerable to electronic countermeasures. The IRIS-T SLM is a key element of the ESSI, providing an intermediate layer of defense that bridges the gap between short-range and long-range systems.

Arrow 3 is a ballistic missile defense system developed jointly by Israel and the United States. Designed to intercept exo-atmospheric ballistic missiles (outside of the Earth's atmosphere), it serves as a high-altitude defense solution. Its main feature is its ability to neutralize threats from space, thanks to a missile that can detach from its booster to become a nimble, fast "hit-to-kill" kill vehicle. It forms the upper layer of defense within the ESSI, offering protection against the most sophisticated ballistic threats.

The Patriot PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) represents a significant evolution of the original Patriot missile system used by the United States and many other countries. This improved version is equipped with PAC-3 MSE (Missile Segment Enhancement) interceptors that enhance the range and precision of the original system. Designed to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles, its versatility and reliability make it a cornerstone of air and missile defense at both tactical and strategic levels, playing a critical role in the ESSI's low and medium-altitude defense layer.

With the Federal Council's approval, it is now up to the National Council and the Council of States to give their consent. If no major objections are raised, Switzerland's accession to the ESSI will be finalized.