Switzerland postponed a decision on buying new fighter jets on Thursday but said it was not yet dropping the 2.2 billion Swiss franc ($2.2 billion) plan, which has become increasingly unpopular during the financial crisis, Reuters reported. Swiss media reported last week that Swiss Defence Minister Ueli Maurer suggested dropping the project and spending the money on other equipment, logistics and military buildings. The seven-member Federal Council said it would stick to plans outlined in March, when it asked the Defence Ministry to prepare a report evaluating options, which will be delayed by several months until spring 2010. Boeing pulled out of the bidding last year, leaving three options: the Anglo-German-Italian Eurofighter, built by EADS with BAE Systems and Finmeccanica; France"s Rafale, built by Dassault Aviation; and the JAS 39 Gripen, built by Sweden"s Saab . If selected, the Eurofighters would be built in Germany. The project has been unpopular in Switzerland from the start and made more so by the financial crisis. There was also speculation in March that the delay was a reprisal against Germany for its campaign against Swiss bank secrecy. Switzerland had wanted to replace its ageing Northrop F-5E/F Tiger fighters, purchased in 1976 and 1981, with up to 33 new aircraft, but a recent Defence Ministry report said it could not even afford 22 on its current budget. The new evaluation paper would be presented together with a report on the country"s defence policy in spring 2010, Maurer told reporters. It was originally scheduled for December. The delay is to allow time for a broader assessment of the role of the army and its financing, Maurer said. --SPA
