How many Tiger IIs did Switzerland buy in 1976?

Short answer

Seventy-two: 66 single-seat F-5Es and 6 two-seat F-5Fs, with a credit of 1.17 billion francs. Parliament approved the purchase at the spring 1976 session (pending confirmation). Deliveries ran from October 1978 to April 1981.

Published: November 6, 2026 · Updated: November 6, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

How many Tiger IIs did Switzerland buy in 1976?

Lockheed P-38 Lightning (USAAC)William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons

From the Corsair to the Tiger

In September 1972, the Federal Council cancelled, for economic reasons, the purchase of sixty American A-7 Corsair combat aircraft. For the time being, Switzerland had to settle for thirty other used British-built Hunters. The argument in favor of the Tiger was that it was the only aircraft that could be bought in sufficient numbers within the country's financial means.

The purchase of 72 aircraft

On 27 August 1975, the Federal Council asked Parliament to approve the acquisition of 72 Tiger fighters, 66 of them single-seat F-5Es and six two-seat F-5Fs. To this end, it requested a credit of 1.17 billion francs. Parliament decided on the purchase at the spring 1976 session (pending confirmation). Swissinfo reports that Parliament approved the credit for the 72 aircraft by a majority.

Deliveries and expansion

The first Tiger was delivered to the Swiss army in October 1978, and the last in April 1981. On 4 June 1981, Parliament approved that year's armament program, which expanded the fleet by 38 aircraft, six of them two-seat F-5Fs.