AXALP 2022

Swiss Air Force demonstrations
The traditional flight demonstrations of the Schweizer Luftwaffe (Swiss Air Force) took place at the Fliegerschiessplatz Axalp (shooting range) on 19 and 20 October 2022.

Every year the Swiss Air Force demonstrates its know-how, precision, and agility at the Axalp range. The presentations take place over the Axalp range at a height of 2,240 meters. The range is located near the city of Brienz and Meiringen air base.

The demonstrations are an opportunity to invite national political leaders, military authorities, Defence attaché and the public. Where official guests are transported by helicopter, the general public, around 4,000 people, joins the viewing site by chairlift and finishes the final part of the ascent on foot.

The scenario included gunnery demonstrations by two F/A-18 Hornet patrols, a demonstration of a Cougar and various sky policing simulations. PC-7 and PC-21 training aircraft performed acrobatic manoeuvres. Airbus EC635 helicopters made various logistics flights and the sole Pilatus PC-24, which has been sold on the civil market, also made a flypast.

The highlight of this year was the show of two Aeronautica Militare (AM, Italian Air Force) F-35A Lightning II fighters, showing the audience the future of the Swiss Air Force.

Divisional General Peter Merz explained the stakes for the Swiss Air Force at a time when the situation in Europe has changed in the military domain. He reminded the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) readiness of armed F/A-18 Hornets was achieved on 31 December 2020 for national airspace protection. In June 2021, the Swiss government officially announced that the F-35A Lightning II had been chosen to replace the F/A-18 Hornet. With the selection of the new fighter, of which 36 will be obtained, the government also decided to buy five MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile systems from US manufacturer Raytheon.

Photos by Jean François Auran