Switzerland is seeking short-range air-to-air missiles for its Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet to replace the Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder.
Funding for the missile deal is planned for in the 2003 procurement budget, which will require the Swiss procurement agency to select a weapon by late next year.
The Swiss air force requires a "highly manoeuvrable agile short-range missile with the ability to engage and defeat close-in hostile aircraft at wide off boresight angles," says the defence ministry. The weapon must also already be integrated with the F/A-18.
The Swiss ministry of defence says it is considering the Matra BAe Dynamics ASRAAM, the Rafael Python 4, Raytheon's AIM-9X Sidewinder and the six nation IRIS-T.
Industry sources, however, say the AIM-9Xand IRIS-T have been shortlisted by the Swiss procurement agency. The former is being integrated with the F/A-18 by the US Navy while Spain is to equip its Hornets with IRIS-T.
Switzerland also arms its Northrop F-5E Tigers with the Sidewinder, but the air force is not expected to acquire a new missile for the fighter because of the likely upgrade required.
Source: Flight International
