Amid issues over “kill swap” in F-35 stealth jets, the Dutch State Secretary for Defence, Gijs Tuinman, has sparked controversy by suggesting the plane’s software program might be “jailbroken” like an iPhone if the US withholds essential upgrades.
“I’m going to say one thing I ought to by no means say, however I’ll do it anyway. Similar to your iPhone, you possibly can jailbreak an F-35,” Gijs Tuinman mentioned on the BNR Nieuwsradio‘s “Boekestijn en de Wijk” podcast, which was posted on-line on February 15, 2026.
Notably, these remarks come virtually a yr after consultants from a number of F-35 buyer nations raised issues that the Trump administration would possibly activate a so-called “kill swap” to disable the plane if relations soured.
German protection analysts expressed fears that Trump may exploit the “kill swap” within the F-35 jets to advance U.S. political pursuits at Germany’s expense. On the time, they described this mechanism as a software-based backdoor that will allow the provider, Lockheed Martin, to remotely disable or severely impair the stealth fighter’s operations.
The issues unfold quickly throughout Europe, amplified by transatlantic rifts, with a number of different nations voicing comparable worries—as EurAsian Instances reported on the time. The Pentagon swiftly intervened to quash the rumors, with the F-35 Joint Program Workplace stating unequivocally that no such “kill swap” exists on the plane and that the U.S. has no functionality to remotely disrupt or disable the jets.
“There is no such thing as a kill swap,” the Joint Program Workplace (JPO) for the F-35 program mentioned in an announcement.
“This system operates below well-established agreements that guarantee all F-35 operators have the required capabilities to maintain and function their plane successfully. The power of the F-35 program lies in its international partnership, and we stay dedicated to offering all customers with the complete performance and assist they require.”
Nevertheless, issues about potential degradation of the F-35s persevered amid fears of transatlantic animosity. Consumers and potential operators fearful that—even absent a literal “kill swap”—the Trump administration may withhold essential software program upgrades, mission information information, or spare elements, rendering the jets much less combat-effective and even inoperable.
These issues have been raised by a number of nations, together with Portugal, which reneged on its promise to purchase the F-35, Canada, which put the acquisition below assessment, and NATO allies like Denmark.
The newest feedback by the Dutch State Secretary for Defence point out that allies stay skeptical of the F-35 and of American reliance on it as a trusted companion.
F-35 Jailbreak On The Playing cards?
The F-35 Lightning II is a software-defined plane. Its core programs, together with the Built-in Core Processor, sometimes called its “laptop mind,” run on over 8 million strains of supply code.
Extra notably, although, the F-35 program imposes particular restrictions on operators’ capacity to change the jet’s and associated ground-based programs’ software program independently.
In actual fact, the preliminary model of the software program, known as Autonomic Logistics Data System (ALIS), which is being changed by Operational Knowledge Built-in Community (ODIN) as a consequence of persistent issues, is up to date by way of a cloud-based community for nearly all F-35s in service globally.
Past software program updates and logistical information, the ALIS/ODIN community is constructed to obtain intelligence and different information following a sortie and to add mission information packages containing extraordinarily delicate info, reminiscent of data about enemy air defence and different essential intelligence, into the F-35 earlier than the jets are deployed.
All essential updates, notably the Mission Knowledge Recordsdata (MDFs) for risk libraries, digital warfare, weapons integration, and concentrating on, require US approval and processing.
The Royal Netherlands Air Drive has a program of report to accumulate 58 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets. However as a “Degree 2” companion in this system, the Dutch have restricted entry to supply code in comparison with the US or Israel, which is the one operator of the jet that may function its F-35I Adir jets exterior the ALIS/ODIN community and set up regionally developed software program on the plane.
Prior to now, the Netherlands had fire-walled elements of its software program reprogramming actions as a consequence of ALIS issues and issues concerning the circulation of nationally delicate info inside the community. Nevertheless, even that work happens below US watch.
Tuinman mentioned he thinks the F-35’s software program might be modified with out authorization by exterior operators—very similar to jailbreaking an iPhone. He was addressing questions concerning the F-35 within the context of US-Europe tensions and disagreements that proceed to plague the age-old transatlantic relationship.
Notably, “Jailbreaking” is the strategy of unlocking a restricted digital machine from the constraints of its working system. It’s the strategy of intentionally eradicating software program limitations from a tool by exploiting its vulnerabilities to acquire root entry to its working system or firmware.
Jailbreaking an iPhone bypasses Apple’s restrictions to run unsigned code, set up customized apps, or modify the OS. When utilized to the F-35, it may presumably imply reverse-engineering or exploiting the plane’s software program protections, together with encryption, digital signatures, and authentication, to put in third-party updates with out US involvement with the intention of updating risk databases independently, integrating non-US weapons, or customising digital warfare suites.
Nevertheless, that is merely a hypothesis, and the EurAsian Instances doesn’t again these theories within the absence of stable proof.
Some consultants famous that this concept might have been introduced to Tuinman solely as a hypothetical endeavor, with no actual effort to find out its viability. Nevertheless, it’s unimaginable to confirm the assertions, notably for the reason that Secretary of Protection declined to disclose particulars, saying he shouldn’t talk about them.
The F-35 makes use of multi-level encryption, anti-tamper tech, and real-time telemetry, which implies tampering may set off self-destruct modes, fail-safes, or alert the US. Moreover, for the reason that software program has greater than 8 million strains of supply code throughout distributed programs, potential errors may even floor the fleet or trigger in-flight failures.
Moreover, even when software program is “jailbroken,” {hardware} spares, engines, and depot upkeep are US-dependent, and Washington would nonetheless have the ability to stonewall the jets by way of elements denial or distant instructions.
Not simply that, jailbreaking the F-35’s programs would put the operator in grave hazard of authorized motion by Lockheed Martin and a severe rift with the US authorities.
Not solely is it a tough technological job, but when a rustic alters its F-35 plane with out permission, it may not be allowed to take part in future official developments and upgrades when they’re made out there once more.
The plane might finally change into nearly motionless in its present configuration, making it unimaginable to improve with new sensors, weaponry, or different applied sciences. Moreover, it might be tough to acquire up to date Mission Knowledge Recordsdata (MDFs), which might stop the plane from correctly recognizing and defending towards extra superior enemy expertise sooner or later.
In actual fact, the feedback have been ridiculed by navy analysts, watchers, and customary netizens on social media.
“When your jailbreak on an iPhone is defective, you possibly can’t watch cats on TikTok. When your jailbreak on an F-35 is defective, your most expert pilots can die…,” Dave DesRoches, a safety watcher and Professor at Thayer Marshall Institute LLC, mentioned on X.
In the meantime, one other protection analyst, Shahryar Pasandideh, wrote: “Suppose the Netherlands and others handle to ‘crack’/’jailbreak’ the F-35’s software program. Then what? The place will they supply all of the spare elements for the plane and the non-substitutable engine? In need of retiring F-35s, Europe is sure to the US re the F-35 for many years to come back.”
Some others dismissed the assertion as a “dumb scorching take” and took a dig at Europe’s AI and laptop engineering capabilities.
Having mentioned what he mentioned, the Dutch Defence Secretary was supportive of the nation’s fleet. The Netherlands has changed its F-16 fleet with F-35s, which have reportedly additionally been outfitted with nuclear functionality, as beforehand reported by the EurAsian Instances.
Nonetheless, it’s pertinent to notice that Tuinman reassured that, despite the fact that there’s a rising divide between the present US authorities and European nations, it’s nonetheless unclear whether or not Washington would jeopardize the F-35’s continued operation by blocking software program upgrades or disrupting provide chains.
