The Swiss Air Force has performed the “Alpha Uno” exercise, in which several F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets landed and took off from a highway. The Swiss Air Force increases its preparedness level. The unusual exercise, which took place on June 5 2024, was carried out along the A1 motorway near Payerne. Currently, the Swiss Air Force operates its fighter jets from three main air bases, namely Payerne, Emmen and Meiringen. Switzerland leverages resources in several locations to address vulnerabilities to potential attacks in the event of war. The Swiss Air Force has implemented decentralization as a passive air defence strategy to mitigate this risk. This approach involves quickly deploying personnel and equipment across the country, allowing operations from alternative and even emergency locations. The central crash barrier on the motorway requires to be dismantled in order to conduct such operations. The roads must have special markers for aviation safety purposes.
The “Alpha Uno” exercise was a direct response to the need for such decentralization.
The ability to take off and land on highways and former military airfields converted to civilian use is essential.
These locations, some of which were originally designed for that purpose during the Cold War, enable the Swiss Air Force to maintain operational readiness even in a threatened security environment.
As security conditions in Europe continue to develop, the Swiss military is focused on comprehensively enhancing its defence capabilities. The use of non-traditional airfields is part of a wider strategy, ensuring that the Swiss Air Force can operate flexibly and resiliently in a variety of scenarios.
The Swiss Air Force currently operates 25 Boeing F/A-18C Hornet multi-role fighter jets and five F/A-18D tandem versions.
In the future, the F/A-18C/D will be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jet, of which 36 units have been ordered.
The perception of the Swiss Air Force's preparedness level was at its lowest since it failed to intercept a hijacked passenger plane in 2014 as it was out of office hours.
Swiss Air Force has conducted similar exercise during cold war, in September 1988 with the exercise called "NOSTRA" on a motorway in canton Obwalden.
