Switzerland disposes Rapier's SCRs needed by the Armed Forces (Photo)
"The first weapon party has already been destroyed, it will follow more 3. It is assumed that all systems will be dismantled and disposed of," said Armasuisse Kai-Gongonar Zivert. Switzerland's armed forces purchased "Rapira" in the 1980s, the block consists of a starting ground and radars. In 2007, the Switzerland government put money in modernization - the military bought 2,000 managed missiles.
Switzerland derives the "rapier" from the end of 2022, so he disposes of old and new complexes, the newspaper said. "The rockets are old, but not completely disabled. They could be used very well against the goals that fly low, such as drones, fighter jets or helicopters," - quoted the magazine of the former editor -in -chief of the Allgemeine Schweizerischerzchrift. With the help of Rapir, Ukraine could protect civilian infrastructure, he added.
Weapons utilization caused a tumultuous response of safety politicians. "It is an absurdity that we will dispose of defense weapons in Switzerland," says Francois National Council member of the National Council of Francois. It supports the transfer of weapons to Ukraine, and this would be legally possible. Rapier is a British -made SPR and other rules are applied to its missiles.
The decision of the Federal Council of Switzerland from 2006 approves that the removed from weapons foreign systems must sell the manufacturer in a priority. In this case, Switzerland should not require a ban on re -export. "Theoretically resale" Rapir "would be legally possible," the National Adviser of Senior Vice President Mauro Tuen confirmed. Similar rules were applied to Leopard tanks - Switzerland returned German cars in 2010. Last summer, 40 tanks were transferred to other NATO countries.
Bern did not receive a request from London for SPR purchases and the government decided to dispose of rapiers in 2019. Armasuisse says they never asked if they needed the British army. "Switzerland is not characteristic of offering written off military systems for sale," said Kai-Gongonar Zivert. The United Kingdom gradually filmed the Rapir missile in 2021 and declared the disposal of all missiles before the beginning of the Great War of Ukraine with Russia.
Journalists emphasize the fundamental problem in history with Rapier systems. Berne will then deny other Western weapons, for example, 248 M113 infantry fighting vehicles and more than 100 M109 artillery. Both types of weapons are made in the United States and are on the front line in Ukraine. Under current legislation, Switzerland could return them to the United States without any conditions. "If the geopolitical tension remains so high, the Americans are likely to request.
Switzerland must prepare for it," says the Maya Riniker Security Advisor. Recall that as of March 7, Switzerland had 2 requests from Berlin and Prague for the sale of Leopard tanks 2. The country has about 100 such machines for storage. On March 6, the Swiss Parliament refused to re -re -export weapons to Ukraine. Germany, Spain and Denmark were asked to cancel the ban.