Switzerland Joins European Sky Shield Initiative: Federal Council Approves Accession to ESSI MoU

• The Federal Council has approved the declaration of accession to the European air defense system European Sky Shield Initiative (Essi).
• The initiative was launched in August 2022. The aim is to strengthen Europe’s air defense.
• Eleven states have signed the declaration of accession so far, including Switzerland last August.
• Even after the Federal Council’s approval, Switzerland can still freely decide where and to what extent it participates in “Sky Shield”.

Specifically, the Federal Council approved the declaration of accession to the ESSI Cooperative Procurement Framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Israeli Iron Dome is the model for the initiative.

The purpose of “Sky Shield” is to better coordinate and, if necessary, bundle air defense procurement projects. This is intended to improve interoperability – i.e. the ability of countries to work together as seamlessly as possible in air defense – and make it possible to use economies of scale when procuring systems. Cooperations in training, maintenance and logistics should also be possible.

Legend: The radar of the Patriot air defense system from the American manufacturer “Raytheon”. Keystone/Alexandra Wey

According to the Federal Council, the focus for Switzerland is on better coordination in procurement projects and training as well as logistical aspects in the area of ​​ground-based air defense. Separate program agreements can be concluded for individual projects and programs in accordance with the MoU.

Switzerland remains free to decide where and to what extent it participates in “Sky Shield” and which ground-based air defense systems it purchases. The Federal Council states that participation does not constitute a preliminary decision for a particular system. And no new obligations would arise from signing the declaration of accession to the MoU.

This MoU implements a declaration of intent to participate in “Sky Shield” signed by Switzerland in the summer of 2023. In an additional declaration, Switzerland and Austria also recorded reservations regarding neutrality – for example, to rule out participation in military conflicts.