Swiss Referendum Will Decide If Purchase of Fighter Jets Allowed

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The Pope's Swiss guards are also a reminder of the country's mercenary past.

Lawmaker Thomas Hurter from the right-wing Swiss People's Party, a former air force pilot, said Switzerland had to protect itself without relying on other countries.

"If we don't replace these old aircraft, that means we have no air force, there is no protection any more and we are not fulfilling our constitution," he said.

Smaller jets could not fly high enough, he said, or have the acceleration needed to react quickly to emergencies.

"We don't know what's going to happen in the next 50 years," Hurter said. "You need to have the fire brigade ready when there is a burning house, otherwise it's too late."

(Writer: John Revill | Editor: Peter Graff)

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-swiss-vote-jets/who-is-our-enemy-neutral-switzerland-votes-on-fighter-jets-idUKKCN26C0II