On 8 June 2009 the “Association against new Fighter Planes”, led by the Group for a Switzerland without an Army (GSoA), submitted a popular initiative “Against new Fighter Planes”.

The initiative calls for a ban to purchase new fighter planes between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. This 10-year moratorium would be inscribed in the federal constitution. Besides, the initiative also has other goals: according to the referendum committee, one goal is to prevent Switzerland from backing worldwide armament and from sending a wrong signal with regard to its peace policy. Further goals are to prevent Switzerland from setting false financial priorities, and to reduce environmental pollution.

The popular initiative is linked to the project to replace part of the Air Force’s existing F-5 Tiger aircrafts. During the winter session in 2007, parliament approved a budget of CHF 8 million for this project and thus agreed to start an evaluation of a new fighter aircraft. Subsequently, the “Group for a Switzerland without an Army” (GSoA) decided to launch a federal popular initiative “Against new Fighter Planes”. According to the GSoA, Swiss citizens should have the final say on armament projects of this scale.

According to current planning, the Federal Council will submit a proposal to the two chambers of parliament to purchase new fighter aircraft within the Armament Programme 2011. The popular vote on the initiative “Against new Fighter Planes” should be held in advance. The Federal Council has examined the initiative and rejected it without presenting a counter-proposal.