Switzerland is selling Rapier air defense systems that could be delivered to Ukraine. The post writes about it NZZ.
We are talking about an indefinite number of British Rapier missiles, which Switzerland acquired in the 1980s. The complex includes a launcher and an optical tracking device. In 2007, the federal government upgraded these systems by purchasing 2,000 modern guided missiles. But now they too are being disposed of. Switzerland has withdrawn the Rapier from service at the end of 2022.
“Missiles are old, but not completely outdated,” Peter Schneider, former editor-in-chief of the military magazine Allgemeine Schweizerische Militärzeitschrift, told the publication. According to him, Kiev could use these missiles against low-flying targets such as drones. From Schneider’s point of view, this is how Ukraine can protect civil infrastructure.
The UK discontinued Rapier in 2021. According to the British Ministry of Defense, the British destroyed all the missiles before the conflict in Ukraine began.
Earlier, the Swiss government had been reinstated amid debates in the national parliament. statedHe said that he would abide by the ban on arms exports to countries where conflicts took place.
7 March Swiss Federal Assembly rejected An attempt to review the ban on the re-export of weapons from Switzerland in order to provide military assistance to Ukraine. This resolution was passed by 23 votes to 18, with two abstentions.
On March 11, a rally was held in Bern with the participation of participants. spoke To maintain Swiss neutrality in relation to events in Ukraine.