Switzerland Armed Forces

Swiss voters Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to scrap the armed forces, cherished by many as vital protection for the small, long-neutral Alpine country in the heart of Europe. Only 384,991 people, or 21.9% of those participating, voted in favor of the initiative. The proposal was put forward by a coalition called Switzerland Without an Army under a law that allows anyone to force a referendum by collecting 100,000 signatures from voters. "The lack of security following the Sept.

Swiss voters Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to scrap the armed forces, cherished by many as vital protection for the small, long-neutral Alpine country in the heart of Europe. Only 384,991 people, or 21.9% of those participating, voted in favor of the initiative. The proposal was put forward by a coalition called Switzerland Without an Army under a law that allows anyone to force a referendum by collecting 100,000 signatures from voters. "The lack of security following the Sept.

Swiss citizens voted to keep their army as the best way of maintaining their nation's neutrality, even though the highly mobilized force has scarcely fired a shot in anger during its four centuries of existence. A proposal to abolish the army by the year 2000 was rejected by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. Although it has only about 1,800 full-time military personnel, Switzerland can mobilize 625,000 trained soldiers in 48 hours--more, it says, than West Germany.

By a margin of 51% to 49%, Swiss voters approved a government proposal to arm peacekeepers, rejecting nationalist claims it will wreck Switzerland's 200-year record of staying out of world conflicts. Defense Minister Samuel Schmid acknowledged the strong opposition to the measure and stressed that Swiss troops on foreign missions would be armed only to defend themselves. "In no case will Swiss soldiers in U.N. or OSCE peacekeeping forces take part in combat," Schmid said.

Swiss air force officials have halted some military exercises pending an investigation of the near-collision of a fighter jet and a Swissair plane with more than 110 people on board. The Swiss air force Tiger jet came within 165 feet of the A-310-200 Airbus near the border with France on Thursday, said air force spokesman Hans-Rudolf Haeberli. The planes were flying at 19,800 feet in clear weather about 8:45 a.m., officials said.

By a margin of 51% to 49%, Swiss voters approved a government proposal to arm peacekeepers, rejecting nationalist claims it will wreck Switzerland's 200-year record of staying out of world conflicts. Defense Minister Samuel Schmid acknowledged the strong opposition to the measure and stressed that Swiss troops on foreign missions would be armed only to defend themselves. "In no case will Swiss soldiers in U.N. or OSCE peacekeeping forces take part in combat," Schmid said.

Struggling military contractor McDonnell Douglas Corp. got a boost Sunday when Swiss voters approved the $2.3-billion purchase of 34 of its F/A-18 Hornet warplanes. In a referendum, voters turned down an initiative that would have halted their neutral nation's aircraft purchases before the year 2000. Switzerland's Military Department and its parliament had already approved the deal, first broached in 1988. A final contract is expected to be signed later this month, McDonnell Douglas said.

McDonnell Douglas Corp. has won a $1.9-billion contract to provide Switzerland's next generation of fighter aircraft, beating rival General Dynamics Corp., Defense Minister Arnold Koller said today. Switzerland's armed forces will buy 34 F/A-18C Hornet fighter planes from McDonnell Douglas, said Koller. Although General Dynamics' F-16 Fighting Falcon--the other finalist put to a 5-week air test--costs 15% less than the Hornet, the F/A-18 is better suited to defend Swiss airspace, Koller said.

McDonnell Douglas Corp. has won a 3-billion Swiss franc ($1.9 billion U.S.) contract to provide Switzerland's next generation of fighter aircraft, beating rival General Dynamics Corp., Defense Minister Arnold Koller said Monday. Switzerland's armed forces will buy 34 F/A-18C Hornet fighter planes from McDonnell Douglas, Koller said.

Struggling military contractor McDonnell Douglas Corp. got a boost Sunday when Swiss voters approved the $2.3-billion purchase of 34 of its F/A-18 Hornet warplanes. In a referendum, voters turned down an initiative that would have halted their neutral nation's aircraft purchases before the year 2000. Switzerland's Military Department and its parliament had already approved the deal, first broached in 1988. A final contract is expected to be signed later this month, McDonnell Douglas said.

Swiss air force officials have halted some military exercises pending an investigation of the near-collision of a fighter jet and a Swissair plane with more than 110 people on board. The Swiss air force Tiger jet came within 165 feet of the A-310-200 Airbus near the border with France on Thursday, said air force spokesman Hans-Rudolf Haeberli. The planes were flying at 19,800 feet in clear weather about 8:45 a.m., officials said.

Swiss citizens voted to keep their army as the best way of maintaining their nation's neutrality, even though the highly mobilized force has scarcely fired a shot in anger during its four centuries of existence. A proposal to abolish the army by the year 2000 was rejected by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. Although it has only about 1,800 full-time military personnel, Switzerland can mobilize 625,000 trained soldiers in 48 hours--more, it says, than West Germany.