Switzerland destroys missiles that would have been useful to Ukraine

Switzerland purchased 60 such weapon systems in the 1980s, modernized them in 2007 and procured 2,000 guided missiles. Since the end of 2022, the Swiss Army stopped operating these systems, so the weapons must now be dismantled and destroyed.

“Missiles are old, but not completely obsolete,” Peter Schneider, former editor-in-chief of the Allgemeine Schweizerische Militarzeitschrift, told NZZ am Sonntag. However, according to him, the Ukrainians could have used the Rapier surface-to-air missile systems to protect civilian infrastructure.

From a legal point of view, Switzerland apparently could have released the weapons for resale. As this is a British system, the strict Swiss arms export regime does not apply in this case. However, Armasuisse spokesman Kaj-Gunnar Siewerts said it would be unusual for Switzerland to offer for sale military systems it no longer uses. The president of Switzerland’s Security Policy Commission said a sale would be difficult at present given the country’s policy of neutrality.

“Rapier” is a surface-to-air missile system developed for the British Army to replace the Bofors 40/L70 anti-aircraft guns used until the early 1970s. The Rapier uses a manual optical guidance system, sending control commands to the missile in flight via radio link. It provides high accuracy, so a large warhead is not required.