https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Russia has demanded an explanation after two Swiss fighter jets carried out a "routine check" of a Russian official plane in its airspace. https://www.thelocal.ch/20161120/russia-complains-at-swiss-check-on-government-plane Sun, 20 Nov 2016 10:53:21 +0100 russia-complains-at-swiss-check-on-government-plane The pilot of a Swiss fighter jet that crashed in the mountains at the end of August was laid to rest on Monday in Payerne. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160913/fallen-military-pilot-honoured-in-payerne-funeral Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:35:14 +0200 fallen-military-pilot-honoured-in-payerne-funeral An investigation into the Swiss F/A-18 fighter jet that smashed into the Alps last week has found that flight controllers told the pilot to fly far below a safe altitude. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160907/fatal-crash-pilot-told-to-fly-below-safe-altitude Wed, 07 Sep 2016 11:18:48 +0200 fatal-crash-pilot-told-to-fly-below-safe-altitude The pilot of a Swiss fighter jet that crashed in the mountains on a training exercise on Monday has been found dead, the Swiss defence ministry has confirmed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160831/pilot-of-crashed-swiss-jet-confirmed-dead Wed, 31 Aug 2016 13:25:33 +0200 pilot-of-crashed-swiss-jet-confirmed-dead The remains of a Swiss army fighter jet that disappeared over the Alps on Monday have been located in central Switzerland, but the pilot is still missing, the defence ministry said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160831/army-locates-crashed-swiss-jet-pilot-still-missing Wed, 31 Aug 2016 10:17:37 +0200 army-locates-crashed-swiss-jet-pilot-still-missing A Swiss army fighter jet went missing over the Alps on Monday and is believed to have crashed, the defence ministry said, adding that a large-scale search and rescue operation had been launched. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160830/search-underway-for-pilot-of-swiss-jet-missing-in-alps Tue, 30 Aug 2016 10:10:49 +0200 search-underway-for-pilot-of-swiss-jet-missing-in-alps The Swiss Air Force is scrapping ten of its F-5 Tiger fighter planes after cracks were discovered in the bodies of the aircraft, the federal defence department said on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20150415/cracks-force-air-force-to-scrap-ten-planes Wed, 15 Apr 2015 12:58:53 +0200 cracks-force-air-force-to-scrap-ten-planes American company Textron Airland is bidding to sell its “budget” Scorpion jets to the Swiss government at one-seventh the cost of Swedish Gripen fighter planes turned down by voters in Switzerland this month. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140527/us-firm-pitches-budget-jets-to-swiss Tue, 27 May 2014 12:18:00 +0200 us-firm-pitches-budget-jets-to-swiss The Swiss allowed a multi-billion-dollar deal to buy fighter jets from Sweden to crash and burn Sunday, when a majority turned out to nix funding for the purchase. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140518/swiss-shoot-down-swedish-fighter-jet-deal Sun, 18 May 2014 20:41:00 +0200 swiss-shoot-down-swedish-fighter-jet-deal Sweden appointed a new ambassador to Switzerland Wednesday, a day after a media report that the current envoy lobbied Swiss parliamentarians to promote the sale of Swedish fighter jets. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140430/new-swede-named-to-bern-amid-gripen-flap Wed, 30 Apr 2014 23:30:00 +0200 new-swede-named-to-bern-amid-gripen-flap Swiss Defence Minister Ueli Maurer is under attack for repeatedly making sexist comments in a gag used to promote the planned purchase of Swedish Gripen fighter jets by the state. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140428/defence-minister-lambasted-for-sexist-speeches Tue, 29 Apr 2014 00:54:00 +0200 defence-minister-lambasted-for-sexist-speeches Swedish defence contractor Saab has been slammed over claims of attempting to influence a referendum in Switzerland that could determine whether or not the Swiss air force purchases 22 new Jas Gripen fighter jets. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140122/swiss-fury-over-saab-meddling-in-gripen-vote-2 Wed, 22 Jan 2014 10:20:00 +0100 swiss-fury-over-saab-meddling-in-gripen-vote-2 The Swiss public could vote as early as May on a deal to buy 22 fighter planes from Sweden after opponents on Tuesday submitted over 100,000 signatures seeking a referendum. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140114/referendum-looms-on-gripen-fighter-plane-deal Tue, 14 Jan 2014 19:13:00 +0100 referendum-looms-on-gripen-fighter-plane-deal Left-wing groups on Tuesday officially launched a referendum against the Swiss government’s plan to buy 22 Swedish Gripen fighter planes at a cost of 3.13 billion francs ($3.46 billion). https://www.thelocal.ch/20131008/referendum-campaign-opposes-gripen-combat-jets Wed, 09 Oct 2013 00:55:00 +0200 referendum-campaign-opposes-gripen-combat-jets The lower house of the Swiss parliament gave its blessing on Wednesday to a controversial deal to purchase 22 Swedish fighter jets but hurdles remain before the deal can be finalized. https://www.thelocal.ch/20130911/mps-back-gripen-fighter-jets Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:56:00 +0200 mps-back-gripen-fighter-jets A majority of Swiss remain opposed to the government’s planned acquisition of Swedish Saab Gripen fighter jets at a cost of 3.1 billion francs. https://www.thelocal.ch/20130908/swiss-remain-against-gripen-fighter-jets-poll Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:04:00 +0200 swiss-remain-against-gripen-fighter-jets-poll Switzerland's purchase of 22 Swedish fighter jets hit yet another snag on Tuesday as the Swiss parliament suspended funding discussions amid reports that EADS was trying to undercut the deal by offering used fighters at half-price. https://www.thelocal.ch/20130409/swedish-fighter-jet-order-hits-new-snag Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:53:00 +0200 swedish-fighter-jet-order-hits-new-snag