Reports Ukraine could soon be unable to properly use its US-supplied F-16 fighter jets have left Europeans concerned the same could happen to them

Summary

European nations refute claims that the U.S. has a “kill switch” for F-35 fighter jets, despite concerns raised after Trump suspended military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine.

While no evidence confirms such a switch, experts warn the U.S. could limit access to crucial software updates.

Belgium and Switzerland assert their F-35s remain autonomous but acknowledge reliance on U.S. data systems.

Set to receive 35 F-35s in 2026, some German politicians are questioning whether the purchase should have been made amid these concerns.

  • NoForwardslashS@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    Set to receive 35 F-35s in 2026, some German politicians are questioning whether the purchase should have been made amid these concerns.

    Yeah, I’d probably at least question a purchase of 35 $100mil items when the seller casually states they can just arbitrarily make them stop working on a whim.

    • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      0·
      6 months ago

      Time to remove all the anti hacking tool laws and give nerds a go at the firmware for these things. Open source that shit and allow everyone to install a non backdoored version to their US equipment.

      • Zer0_F0x@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        6 months ago

        Or just let the US know that if they’re gonna tamper with your F35s you’ll put one F35 in a box and ship it to China. They’ll have a copy ready by next year and software cracked within the week

  • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    Whether or not a “kill switch” exists is frankly rather immaterial. The fact remains that we control a LOT of the essential tech that goes into those things, and considering we’re basically turning into an adversary towards most of our former allies, it’s not a super great idea to have us be a core part of your logistics pipeline - especially when it comes to one of your most advanced strike fighter.

    Sure, it’s great tech… but what happens when Trump decides in 6 months to stop shipping engines and engine parts and software updates and encryption keys and the myriad of little doodads that go into the thing? That’s right: it’ll stop working quite as well as it’s designed to, and ultimately will need to be grounded until operators can find a side-channel to get the things it needs (or replacement/aftermarket parts + software, though frankly I don’t think the second part is feasible, knowing the ludicrous size of the codebase that is absolutely for sure NOT something that can be easily or quickly replicated).