Early warning of threats: Federal Council wants to strengthen exchange of air situation data with partners
Bern, 11.02.2026 — The Federal Council wants to further enhance protection against airborne threats. At its meeting on 11 February, it decided to enter into negotiations to extend or conclude new international agreements on the exchange of air situation data. This will enable Switzerland to receive timely warnings of potential threats – even before they reach its own airspace – and so gain valuable advance warning time for the population and the Armed Forces.
Switzerland's ability to defend itself against airborne threats will be significantly improved with the introduction of F-35 fighter jets and Patriot and IRIS-T SLM long- and medium-range air defence systems. However, due to Switzerland's small size, long-range weapons such as cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons can only be detected at a very late stage. As Switzerland does not have any sensors outside its territory or in space and is not part of a joint air and missile defence system, it is dependent on the exchange of air situation data with partners.
Seeing further through the international exchange of air situation data
Today, agreements on the exchange of data for air policing are in place with Germany, Italy, Austria, France and NATO. However, this data is of limited relevance for defending against military threats such as long-range weapons.
To enable the exchange of sensor and air situation data on civil and military aircraft in all situations, the Federal Council has approved the commencement of the following negotiations:
- Conclusion of a Sensor Visibility Arrangement with the US Air Force in Europe;
- Extension of the agreement on air situation data exchange with the Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) to enable the exchange of classified sensor and air situation data on civil and military aircraft;
- Agreement with Germany, France, Italy and Austria on the exchange of classified sensor and air situation data on civil and military aircraft.
Suspension clause for neutrality obligations
The Federal Council has set out the negotiating guidelines: As is customary in such cooperation agreements, the agreements must contain a suspension clause in order to comply with Switzerland's neutrality obligations. This allows Switzerland to suspend the exchange of information at any time if it deems it appropriate. Furthermore, official acts by foreign authorities in the context of the exchange of military air situation data and information on Swiss territory or in Swiss airspace are excluded.
The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) is tasked with consulting the Security Policy Committees (SPC) and the Foreign Affairs Committees (FAC) on the negotiating mandate. If the committees express reservations, the DDPS will submit a proposal to the Federal Council on how to proceed.