The move comes after Spain abandoned plans to buy dozens of the fighter jets.

ZURICH, March 6 (Reuters) - Switzerland now expects to purchase around 30 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, six fewer than initially projected, because of cost increases in the order, the government said on Friday.

Switzerland announced Friday it wanted to buy 30 US F-35A fighter jets rather than 36 after Washington hiked the price, and said its broader defence set-up needed repurposing to face current threats.

Two Russian TU-142 military aircraft were tracked near Alaska and Canada.

Switzerland plans to buy only about 30 Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jets from the US and considers purchasing a European-built air defense system to make up for delays of an existing procurement.

Why India has repeatedly declined US fighter jet offers, from F-16 to F-35, even as defence ties with Washington expand.

IDF says F-35I Adir shot down an Iranian Yak-130 during Israel-Iran war operations, marking a first reported fighter-to-fighter clash.

As Ottawa reviews its F-35 purchase, there's concern Washington holds a powerful lever — control of the secure Link 16 network used for NATO and NORAD operations. Swedish Gripens and Danish F-35s operate together in NATO missions,