Switzerland has applied to join the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). This decision, sanctioned by the Federal Council, marks a pivotal step in enhancing international cooperation in air defense. On July 8, 2024, Chief of Armament Urs Loher signed the application for ESSI membership, which has been addressed to the Chairperson of ESSI. This follows Switzerland’s signing of the Letter of Intent and a neutrality law reservation statement on July 7, 2023. The Federal Council had already resolved to join ESSI on April 10, 2024, authorizing the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) to proceed with the accession process.The membership application process requires all ESSI member states to review and comment on Switzerland’s application and draft statement of accession.
ESSI is a project to build a ground-based integrated European air defence system which includes anti-ballistic missile capability. As of April 2024, twenty-one European states participate in the initiative. The initiative was originally proposed by the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in August 2022. The proposal was made during the 2022–2023 Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and amid increased concerns about the limited European capability to defend against such threats as the Russian 9K720 Iskander ballistic missile systems deployed in Kaliningrad. In October 2022, fifteen European states (Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, the United Kingdom) signed a declaration to join the German-led initiative.
These member states have a two-month period to express their consent or raise any justified reservations. Should there be no reservations, Switzerland will sign the statement of accession and the Cooperative Procurement Framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which forms the foundation of ESSI. Joining ESSI will significantly enhance Switzerland’s international cooperation opportunities. The initiative aims to improve coordination in procurement projects, training, and logistical support for ground-based air defense systems. Importantly, Switzerland’s participation in ESSI does not compel it to commit to any specific defense system or create binding obligations.
The ESSI will use multi-layered defence, with the following systems planned:
Medium range: primarily IRIS-T SLM
Long range: MIM-104 Patriot
Very long range (exoatmospheric): Arrow 3
In December 2022, the German Chancellor expressed a hope that the system will be developed in the next five years. In June 2023, the German Bundestag authorized nearly €4 billion for the acquisition of Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile system from Israel. The contract was signed in November 2023.
Switzerland retains the freedom to determine the extent and nature of its involvement in ESSI activities and procurements. With its participation in the ESSI, Switzerland is increasing international opportunities for cooperation: ESSI enables better coordination of procurement projects, training and logistical aspects in the area of ground-based air defence. Even after signing the statement of accession, Switzerland will decide freely where and to what extent it will participate in the ESSI and which ground-based air defence systems it will procure. Accession to the ESSI does not constitute a preliminary decision in favour of a specific system. Signing the statement of accession does not lead to any obligations.
