The Swiss Air Force has successfully completed the “Alpha Uno” exercise, an unusual exercise in which several F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets land and take off from a highway. The exercise, which took place on June 5 2024, was carried out along the A1 motorway near Payerne to demonstrate its air operational readiness at any time. Currently, the Swiss Air Force operates its fighter jets from three main air bases, namely Payerne, Emmen and Meiringen. Switzerland leverages resources in several locations to address vulnerabilities to potential attacks in the event of war. To mitigate this risk, the Swiss Air Force has implemented decentralization as a passive air defense strategy. The ability to take off and land on highways, as well as former military airfields converted to civilian use is essential. These locations, some of which were originally designed for that purpose during the Cold War, enable the Swiss Air Force to maintain operational readiness even in a threatened security environment. As security conditions in Europe continue to develop, the Swiss military is focused on comprehensively enhancing its defense capabilities. The use of non-traditional airfields is part of a wider strategy, ensuring that the Swiss Air Force can operate flexibly and resiliently in a variety of scenarios. The Swiss Air Force currently operates 25 Boeing F/A-18C Hornet multi-role fighter jets and five F/A-18D tandem versions. In the future, the F/A-18C/D will be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jet, of which 36 units have been ordered. #armyrangers #armyranger #military #army #navy #marine #usarmytraining #usarmy #airforce