Key Points and Summary – Rumors of a secret F-35 “kill switch” that would allow the U.S. to remotely disable allied jets are a myth. However, there is a real, and more mundane, source of American leverage over the global fleet.
-The F-35 is a software-defined aircraft that relies on a constant flow of U.S.-controlled spare parts, maintenance support, and critical software updates to remain combat-effective.
-Without this logistical lifeline, allied F-35s would quickly be “hobbled” and vulnerable in combat, giving Washington a powerful, albeit less dramatic, form of control over the world’s most advanced fighter.
The F-35’s “Kill Switch” Myth Is About Spare Parts
The F-35 is the world’s premier fifth-generation stealth aircraft, the most advanced aircraft, unmatched in all fixed-wing aircraft. Lockheed Martin perfected different variants of the F-35 that are in use by various American allies today.
Back in March, the Trump Administration had a controversial meeting ripping Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky live on television, creating a panic among US allies regarding the F-35, and a mythical “kill switch” that the US could use to basically shut down the aircraft.
This has caused many allied nations to reconsider purchasing the F-35 from the US, despite the US’s efforts to dispel the rumors.
The Mythical F-35 “Kill Switch And Other Rumors
The fallout from the disastrous Zelensky meeting resulted in reports that Portugal and Canada were rethinking their decision to buy the F-35 due to a kill switch rumor that gained traction.
That rumor was reported as fact, and it created uncertainties, especially among the NATO allies, that the US could literally flip a switch, and through a back door coding in the software code, turn the F-35 into a lawn ornament.
“There is no kill switch,” the Joint Program Office (JPO) for the F-35 program said in a statement.
“The program operates under well-established agreements that ensure all F-35 operators have the necessary capabilities to sustain and operate their aircraft effectively. The strength of the F-35 program lies in its global partnership, and we remain committed to providing all users with the full functionality and support they require,” the statement added.
Lockheed Martin also tried to dispel the rumors and said that the company “is committed to helping our customers strengthen their airpower and security with the F-35. The F-35 program recently surpassed 1 million flight hours across 20 military services flying the aircraft.
“We remain committed to providing the reliable and capable F-35 to enable our customers to complete their missions and come home safely.” Lockheed Martin has also affirmed its commitment to providing all F-35 users with full functionality and support.
The Real Kill Switch: Spare Parts Withheld Is A Concern
Though the F-35 doesn’t have a physical kill switch, the US government can adversely affect the fifth-generation fighter’s long-term effectiveness by limiting its logistics, maintenance, and software upgrades.
The F-35 is a software-defined weapon system (roughly made of 8 million+ lines of code) of a highly networked nature, reliant on systems like the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), its successor Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN), and software updates, which have raised legitimate questions about US influence over allied operations.
If maintenance \and upgrades aren’t provided, an F-35 squadron could be rendered combat ineffective.
However, US partner nations have established F-35 maintenance centers in Europe, with a new one in Rygge, Norway, and another one in Cameri, Italy.
Called the F-35 Euro-Mediterranean Airframe Depot, the center sits alongside a final assembly line for the jet, which has turned out Italian and Dutch F-35s and is where Lockheed Martin staff have handled sensitive aspects of assembly, such as anti-radar coatings.
The European nations also have a robust spare parts catalog to keep their F-35s flying in a crisis.
F-35 Software Updates Are Crucial To Maintain an Air Superiority Edge
“[It] isn’t an electronic kill switch. The US also cannot remotely take control of the F-35,” Stacie Pettyjohn, the director of the defense program at the Center for a New American Security, said to Breaking Defense.
“But by severing maintenance support, shipments of spare parts, and cutting foreign F-35s off from US computer networks, the aircraft would quickly be hobbled.
“Without these software updates, F-35s could fly, but would be much more likely to be shot down by enemy air defenses. Also, without US maintainers and spare parts, it would be difficult to keep the aircraft flying for long, as it is an incredibly complex weapons system,” she added.
Lockheed Martin has recently finished the newest software upgrade for the F-35 Lightning II and is awaiting Air Force approval to begin installing it.
“We believe we have reached that point” where the software for the upgrade known as TR-3 is stable enough to support new combat capabilities, J.R. McDonald, Lockheed’s vice president of business development for the F-35 program, said in a briefing.
While some long-simmering issues with NATO, which had come to light during the Trump administration, were ironed out, the US is not going to cut off the flow of spare parts and software.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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