(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 22, 2010: As Switzerland is making a number of budget cuts, many people expected defense to be a natural candidate for cutbacks.And so there was surprise when a leaked document from the defense ministry revealed plans to increase spending, by ordering new fighter jets at a cost of up to 3.8 billion euros ($ 4.9 billion).
Defense Minister Ueli Maurer wants to replace the country's aging fleet of fighters, purchased as long ago as 1976. He would need an increase in the defense budget to pay for his plan to order 22 fighters.
Maurer is from the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), traditionally strong supporters of the Swiss military. However, even some of the defense minister's party colleagues, such as Toni Bortoluzzi, are skeptical.
"We've been talking for ages about reducing the budget," said Bortoluzzi. "We're really going to have to have a discussion about this, to see whether this amount of money is available.
http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2010/08/dtn-news-swiss-defense-minister-draws.html
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