Dutch defense secretary claims F-35 fighter jets can be ‘jailbroken’

Per The Register, the Netherlands' defense secretary, Gijs Tuinman, has claimed that Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter aircraft can be modified by European forces without U.S. permission, comparing the process to jailbreaking an iPhone.

Tuinman made these remarks during a podcast interview, suggesting that European nations operating F-35s could potentially maintain their aircraft's software independently. He emphasized the F-35's collaborative nature, with components like Rolls-Royce engines being supplied by European partners. While Tuinman did not provide specifics on the "jailbreaking" process, security experts note that unlike consumer devices, the high barrier to entry for accessing military hardware makes such modifications unlikely to become public knowledge. The F-35's software is updated via the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), with only Israel having negotiated a special agreement for its own software integration.

Tuinman's comments echo previous concerns in Europe about potential U.S. control over F-35 fleets, including fears of a remote "kill switch." These discussions highlight the strategic importance of software autonomy for European defense capabilities and raise questions about reliance on U.S. technology.

Source: The Register