Politics · Switzerland · 8 hrs ago
Former Swiss army chief disputes criticism over F-35 price issue
Thomas Süssli left his post as head of the Swiss army at the end of 2025 and has joined the FDP.
He plans to run for parliament in 2027 in the canton of Lucerne.
Michele Moor, head of the Swiss Officers’ Society, has questioned what Süssli and other officials knew about a disputed fixed price for F-35 fighter jets.
Süssli says the army leadership did not take part in the contract talks and that he submitted his resignation before the United States called the fixed price a “misunderstanding” in February 2025.
Moor says Süssli cannot simply avoid responsibility as the former army chief.
A Swiss parliamentary commission member has defended Süssli’s role in the procurement, while some lawmakers say it could be sensitive if he joins parliament’s security committee.
If elected, Süssli says his parliamentary group will decide which committee he joins, and he is open to different roles.
Former Swiss army chief Thomas Süssli has rejected criticism of his role in questions over the fixed price for F-35 fighter jets.
Michele Moor, president of the Swiss Officers’ Society, said Süssli could not simply avoid responsibility as army chief.
Süssli said the army leadership was not involved in contract negotiations and that he was informed of possible price problems alongside other officials.
The dispute comes as Süssli prepares to run for the FDP in Lucerne in the 2027 National Council election.
Some lawmakers have raised concerns about possible conflicts of interest if he joins the parliament’s security committee.
- Who
- Former army chief Thomas Süssli and Michele Moor, president of the Swiss Officers’ Society.
- What
- Moor questioned Süssli’s role and knowledge in the F-35 fixed-price issue; Süssli rejected the criticism.
- When
- The dispute was reported on October 12, 2026. The article also refers to events in 2025.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- Moor questioned what officials knew about the fixed-price problems and whether Süssli could avoid responsibility as army chief.
Thomas Süssli
Michele Moor
Responsibility
Thomas Süssli
Süssli says the army leadership was not involved in the contract negotiations and rejects the link between his resignation and the fixed-price issue.
Michele Moor
Moor says Süssli was army chief and cannot simply absolve himself of responsibility.
Knowledge of price problems
Thomas Süssli
Süssli says he learned of possible problems at the same time as other officials in the defence department.
Michele Moor
Moor says that if Süssli knew of the problems, his account is inconsistent; if he did not, that would be a disaster for the defence department.
Süssli says he took over programme oversight of the procurement after contract negotiations had already concluded.
Süssli says he submitted his resignation in writing nearly four weeks before this date.
The United States first described the F-35 fixed price as a “misunderstanding.
Süssli handed over leadership of the army.
Süssli plans to run for the National Council in the canton of Lucerne.
- Fighter jet
- F-35
- Swiss Officers’ Society president
- Michele Moor
- Former army chief
- Thomas Süssli
- Planned election
- 2027 National Council election in Lucerne
- Fixed-price statement
- The United States called it a “misunderstanding” on February 24, 2025
What people are saying
Thomas Süssli was chief of the army and, in my view, cannot simply absolve himself of responsibility
If he really knew nothing about the problems surrounding the fixed price, that would be a disaster in the defence department. If he did know, then what he wrote is not true.
I firmly reject these unfounded insinuations
In terms of the procurement process, he was completely outside it; he had no insight into the contracts
Sources
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