The F-35 'Kill Switch': Separating Myth from Reality With heightened tensions between Europe and the US over NATO and Ukraine, the myth of an F-35 "kill switch", which would allow the Pentagon to disable foreign F-35s, is fueling debate. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/03/10/f... - ThreadSky

theaviationist.com • 2 days ago

The F-35 'Kill Switch': Separating Myth from Reality

With heightened tensions between Europe and the US over NATO and Ukraine, the myth of an F-35 "kill switch", which would allow the Pentagon to disable foreign F-35s, is fueling debate.

Story: https://theaviationist.com/2025/03/10/f-35-kill-switch-myth/

Comments

guidoleenders.emp.invantive.com•2 days ago

Missed the point. The logic behind for instance Defense Production Act and Berry Amendment also applies to EU countries. That previously politicians looked away is something of the past. All critical high-trust purchases such as F35 have been killed imho by current’s administration policy to vote

guidoleenders.emp.invantive.com•2 days ago

for instance with North Korea and Russia on UN resolution and withdrawing without proper sufficient notice.

guidoleenders.emp.invantive.com•2 days ago

On a less substantial level, when software updates are required for combat readiness: it is easy to inject a killswitch in a release. I have seen major companies come to a grinding halt because some US software
company software engineer thought it was a great idea to restrict software lifetime to

guidoleenders.emp.invantive.com•2 days ago

a fixed date in their C-code. And the American software supplier denying all support years later when the production was halted. Unless a hefty payment was done.

jandit.bsky.social•1 day ago

"Beyond logistics, the F-35’s reliance on U.S.-provided software updates makes the weapon system really vulnerable."

So....it's only a matter of times before "Big Balls" get's access to the F-35 code base and update system?

kravietz.bsky.social•1 day ago

The problem is not in technicalities, but in the fact that US has just signalled its cessation to support enforcement of international agreements it previously forced countries to comply with.

kravietz.bsky.social•1 day ago

So if today's US decides it's "not in its interest" to continue resisting hypothetical Russian invasion into Poland, it will enforce "peace" instead by any means possible, including disabling weapons it supplied.

thgraf.bsky.social•2 days ago

Switzerland is also already discussing to cancel the contract of purchasing 36 F-35 fighter jets.

The "kill switch" is not an deactivation switch, but rather the shaken confidence whether the USA will continue to supply updates and spare parts in the event of a defense, or whether it will let 🧵1/2

thgraf.bsky.social•2 days ago

2/2 … its European contractual partners down just like it did with Ukraine.

This MAGA behaviour will have serious economic consequences.

swbze.bsky.social•2 days ago

This ☝️

thgraf.bsky.social•1 day ago

thgraf.bsky.social•2 days ago

kornfeld.bsky.social•1 day ago

There must be a reason why European defense stocks are rising, while American ones are falling.

yanadear.bsky.social•2 days ago

if there is such thing then no one should ever operate these planes

cristian2023.bsky.social•2 days ago

too risky even for a debate… Stop buying american

monovoce.bsky.social•2 days ago

We found out that the F-16 jammer system has so buying American fighter planes comes with an unacceptable high risk.

v-holmsen.bsky.social•2 days ago

IDK of any "Kill Switch" per se, but the F-35 relies on real-time data communication with US data processing centers and frequent critical software updates.

Cutting the data-link would render the planes virtually useless.

teejoku.bsky.social•1 day ago

This

war-or-peace.bsky.social•1 day ago

There can be no doubt: Europe must in all weapons systems become self-reliant. ASAP.

everythingistolong.bsky.social•2 days ago

USA allready medling with Ukraines F-16 planes internal system so they dont work 100%!!

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