Swiss Parliament Approves Army Budget, Rejects Additional Funding for Ammunition
BERN, September 17, 2025 – Switzerland’s Parliament today approved the 2025 army budget, but narrowly rejected a proposed additional billion-franc investment in ammunition, mirroring a similar decision made in June by the National Council. The Council of States voted 30 to 13 against the supplementary credit.
The approved budget allocates engagement credits of 1.69 billion francs for 2025, with 1.5 billion earmarked for armaments programs, particularly new armored vehicles, as part of a parliamentary goal to dedicate 1% of GDP to the army by 2032.
A proposal to increase funding for tank refurbishment and a new wheeled artillery system also failed, with both amendments defeated by meaningful margins – 35 votes to 7 and 36 votes to 7, respectively.
The debate centered on financial priorities and ensuring adequate supplies for existing and future defense systems. Supporters of the additional ammunition funding, like Andrea Gmür-Schönenberger (center/Lu), argued Switzerland must secure contracts and delivery slots, stating, “There is no point in having modern weapons if they can only be used over a short time due to a lack of ammunition.”
Opponents, including Pascal Broulis (PLR/VD) and Josef Dittli (PLR/UR), emphasized the need to prioritize spending given federal financial constraints and the upcoming costs associated with the F-35 programme. Dittli stated, ”Switzerland needs more ammunition, but adding a billion here is not the way to follow.”
Parliament also narrowly validated the continued,though limited,operation of the F-5 Tiger fleet until suitable replacements are available,voting 22 to 20 in favor. Hannes Germann (UDC/SH) championed extending the lifespan of the F-5s,arguing the cost of a single F-35 exceeds the expense of maintaining the existing fleet. Defense Minister Martin Pfister countered that extending the F-5s’ lifespan would be too expensive and would not contribute to Switzerland’s defense capabilities.
