Switzerland's attempts to purchase a new fighter were approved at a meeting of the Federal Council on August 25, but the decision was also taken to postpone the buy for at least five year. The partial F-5 Replacement Programme called for the purchase of 22 new fighters at a cost estimated to be up to SFr4.8 billion (￡3rnbillion). The programme was originally due to cost SFr1.94 billion (￡1.2 billion) and the increase in cost is one of the reasons behind its postponement. Others have pointed out to Defence Minister Ueli Maurer that the money required for the new aircraft would be better spent elsewhere in the military.
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