The Swiss Government has decided to delay the purchase of new fighter jets for the country’s air force until 2015 due to restrictions in its defence budget.

Switzerland had intended to buy 33 new fighter jet to replace its 54 aging Northrop F-5E/F Tiger fighters purchased in 1976 and 1981, according to Reuters.

The defence ministry was expected to propose a spend of CHF5bn ($4.85bn) to finance the purchase of new fighter jets.

EADS’s Eurofighter, Dassault’s Rafale and Saab’s Gripen were the three contenders for the fighter jet tender, which was announced in January 2008.