Switzerland select Grippen

[swiss]

Originally Posted by JG53Frankyboy

if i understood correct the Gripen is not ment to replace the Hornets?!
Waste of money.....wondering how it got through the swiss direct democratic.

EDIT:
after reading some newspapers about this, i would say this deal is not done already, only the choice of the government

No, the Gripens are supposed to replace our F5s

And yes, you're correct concerning the democratic process, the lefties probably are going to demand a poll.
But:
It wont be about Gripen or something else, it will be about Gripen or no fighters before 2020 at all.
No new fighters would mean the Army had lost it's democratic backup.
The next poll would be about the dissolution of the Swiss Army, likely with a similar result.
You could basically say, if the Gripen loses, the Swiss Army will be gone in less than 10 years.

I expect ~55% of the people voting pro new jets.



edit:
Isn't it a beautiful plane?
(In fact, it always was my first choice, even back in the day when we bought the ugly and super expensive F18 )