The widening rift between the United States and Europe has sparked concerns among America’s European allies and buyers of its weapons systems, including Greece, about the control the US may have over its F-35 fighter jets’ software, which could allegedly be remotely blocked -known as a “kill switch.”
So far, 13 European countries have purchased the American-made F-35, the world’s most advanced and also known as Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Greece has ordered 20 such 5th-generation fighter jets, with an option for an additional 20, in a deal worth up to $8.6 billion.
The widely circulated theory of a hidden “kill switch” installed in the F-35’s software, which contains over eight million lines of codes, claims that Washington has the power to block the use of the jet in operations it has not authorized by restricting its operational capabilities or even grounding the ultra-modern aircraft sold to foreign buyers. The “kill switch” controversy has fueled concerns among several countries, which have heavily invested in the aircraft. To date, more than 1,100 F-35s have been sold to 16 countries and their number is growing.
So far, there has been no evidence that such a “switch” exists and the US has not commented on whether it has this ability. However, Joachim Schranzhofer, head of communications at the German arms company Hensoldt, told German newspaper Bild last week that it is “more than just a rumor.” He did not elaborate on what he mean by saying this, though he added that it would be much easier for the US to ground aircraft by blocking access to key software, which remains under American control.
European F-35 buyers’ reaction to the possibility of a “kill switch”
Germany has purchased 35 F-35s worth over $8.3 billion, and the deal has recently sparked a debate amid fear that Washington could render the aircraft inoperable.
Concerns over the existence of a “kill switch” were ignited after US President Donald Trump suspended military aid and intelligence to Ukraine. While Washington cannot switch off the F-16 fighter jets it has already sent to Ukraine, it can however decline to update the AN/ALQ-131 electronic jamming equipment used by the aircraft against Russian forces. This would significantly reduce the F-16’s capabilities.
European countries are now wondering if their trust in American-made weapons could prove problematic in the long term.
“If we have to fear that the USA could do with future German F-35s what they are currently doing with Ukraine, we could consider terminating the contract,” ex-diplomat and President of the Munich Security Conference Foundation Wolfgang Ischinger told Bild.
At the same time, General Frederik Vansina, Belgium’s chief of defense, said that the F-35 “is not a remote-controlled aircraft,” while Switzerland’s defense ministry recently said its F-35s could be used autonomously. However, it admitted that no advanced Western fighter jets were fully independent of US secure data communication systems and GPS satellite navigation.