Germany Concerned as F-35 Possibility of Shutdown in 30 Days with Single Button
The security concerns in the European Union surrounding US President Donald Trump’s policy on the Ukrainian war have brought attention to the use of F-35 fighter planes. In Germany and Canada, where discussions have emerged regarding the reinforcement of Air Force fleets with F-35 fighter planes, concerns about the so-called ‘kill switch’ have surfaced.
The ‘kill switch’ system has been rumored to give the US the ability to remotely control and disable F-35 fighter planes belonging to countries that follow policies opposing their interests. However, many politicians and defense officials have dismissed these claims, stating that the F-35 is not a remote-controlled plane and that countries have control over their defense systems.
Despite these reassurances, the F-35’s reliance on US-controlled systems such as ALIS/ODIN and MDF for maintenance and task planning has raised concerns about the aircraft’s vulnerability to US intervention. These cloud-based systems transmit critical information about the plane to the US, allowing them to track and potentially disable F-35s if necessary.
Furthermore, the F-35’s dependency on the US for software updates has also raised questions about the aircraft’s functionality and deterrence capabilities. Without regular updates, the F-35 may become vulnerable to security threats and lose its advantages in combat situations.
While there is no evidence to support the existence of a ‘kill switch’ system that can disable F-35s with the push of a button, the aircraft’s reliance on US-controlled systems and software updates raises concerns about its independence from US intervention. As geopolitical uncertainties continue to grow, countries using F-35 fighter planes may need to reassess their reliance on US-controlled systems to maintain their security and defense capabilities.
