Claims that there is a system that can suddenly stop F-35 aircraft and that the manufacturer, the United States, can use this system at any time have sparked debates in European countries. It is indicated that some countries have started to review their orders for these planes.

Currently, the F-35 fighter jets are on the agenda in Europe. It is alleged that there is a hidden “kill switch” in the inventory of many countries’ F-35s, allowing the U.S. to remotely render these aircraft inoperable instantly. The manufacturing companies led by American Lockheed Martin strongly deny these claims.

CLAIMS OF A “KILL SWITCH” However, experts point out that even without a “kill switch,” there is a reliance on the U.S. concerning software updates and spare parts. It is also suggested that the U.S. could hinder the use of the planes by cutting off technical support.

“U.S. MUST BE INFORMED FOR EVERY FLIGHT” Reports in the German Stern magazine have further fueled the debates on this topic. The magazine obtained the contract Germany made for purchasing F-35s. According to the contract, Germany is required to inform the U.S. in advance for every flight. The contract also includes the condition for Germany to input all usage data into the Amazon cloud storage system.

U.S. CAN HALT F-35 FLIGHTS

It is claimed that the U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, insists on reserving the right to halt the flights of F-35s in extraordinary and urgent situations required by national interests.

It is also noted that the Pentagon did not allow German officials to examine the computer code that controls the aircraft. This dominance of the U.S. over the planes has caused concern among European countries.

CONCERNS RISE ALONGSIDE UKRAINE The British newspaper The Times reported that these concerns heightened after the U.S. suspended military aid to Ukraine temporarily by halting the transfer of hardware and spare parts. Some European countries, worried about the inconsistent behavior of the Trump administration, are reportedly beginning to reconsider their arms orders from the U.S.

COUNTRIES CANCELING ORDERS The Times reported that 21 countries that have purchased or ordered F-35s have serious concerns. While the UK and the Netherlands stated they will continue to use the aircraft, Canada and Portugal are reconsidering canceling their orders. Calls for canceling these orders have also started to come to the forefront in Germany, which placed an order for 35 aircraft in 2023. The German Ministry of Defense announced that it will stick to the agreements made with the U.S. regarding the F-35s.