ZURICH, April 1 (Reuters) - The Swiss government will continue to withhold payments to the ‌United States for a Patriot missile ‌system order until Washington provides binding delivery dates, adding ​that terminating the purchase is an option, it said on Wednesday.

The delivery schedule remains uncertain, as do payment milestones, the government said in ‌a statement.

Defence Minister ⁠Martin Pfister said the government still expected to acquire the system, but ⁠was ruling nothing out.

"We are currently negotiating all possible options with the United States, and ​that includes ​a potential termination," he ​told reporters at ‌a news conference, noting it was not clear what the conditions for any cancellation would be.

The government said it had brought forward a payment related to a F-35A fighter jet order ‌to the end of ​March 2026 to ensure procurement ​of the ​aircraft is not jeopardised by decisions ‌concerning the Patriot system.

The Defence ​Ministry said ​it plans to inform Switzerland's governing Federal Council by the end of June on ​the next ‌steps regarding procurement of the Patriot system.

(Writing ​by Miranda Murray and Dave Graham; ​editing by Matthias Williams)