German Jets Supplied by US Could Be Disabled by Trump's 'Kill Switch', Reports Bild
German officials are concerned that the US may have the capability to remotely disable F-35 fighter jets, according to a report by Bild. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Concerns are rising among German policymakers regarding the potential for the US to remotely disable the F-35 fighter jets being supplied to Berlin in a crisis situation. This anxiety mirrors the US's recent action of halting intelligence and military assistance to Ukraine, according to a report by Bild published on Saturday.
The German Air Force is scheduled to receive 35 F-35A Lightning II jets from the US, with delivery commencing in 2026 as part of an €8.3 billion contract. However, some officials are worried that US President Donald Trump, who has had contentious relations with the EU on various matters, might activate a ‘kill switch’ to ground the jets should a conflict with Russia arise and Washington and European capitals fail to align in their response.
"The ‘kill switch’ in the F-35 is more than just a rumor," said Joachim Schranzhofer, the head of communications at German defense company Hensoldt, in his conversation with Bild. "But it’s much easier to use the mission planning system – then the plane stays on the ground."
Wolfgang Ischinger, former president of the Munich Security Conference Foundation, expressed his concerns about the future of the contract. "If we have to fear that the US could do with future German F-35s what they are currently doing with Ukraine, we could consider terminating the contract," he stated, as quoted by the tabloid.
Concerns regarding a potential kill switch have also been shared by experts featured in the Financial Times. Defense analyst Richard Aboulafia noted that while there has never been confirmation of a kill switch's existence, "If you postulate the existence of something that can be done with a little bit of software code, it exists."
On the other hand, some argue that having a kill switch might be unnecessary due to the advanced nature of modern fighter jets and their reliance on the vendor. "Most European militaries depend heavily on the US for communications support, for electronic warfare support, and for ammunition resupply in any serious conflict," remarked Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, in his comments to the FT.
The fears surrounding the F-35s have intensified following the US's suspension of military and intelligence support for Ukraine, which was prompted by a dispute between Trump and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. During this disagreement, the US president accused Zelensky of lacking a desire for peace with Russia.
The F-35 program is considered the most expensive military initiative in history, with estimated lifetime costs surpassing $1.7 trillion. Since its inaugural flight in 2006, the program has faced numerous challenges, including cost overruns, delays, and reliability issues. To date, over 1,100 F-35s have been produced, with a significant number delivered to US allies.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
The German Air Force is scheduled to receive 35 F-35A Lightning II jets from the US, with delivery commencing in 2026 as part of an €8.3 billion contract. However, some officials are worried that US President Donald Trump, who has had contentious relations with the EU on various matters, might activate a ‘kill switch’ to ground the jets should a conflict with Russia arise and Washington and European capitals fail to align in their response.
"The ‘kill switch’ in the F-35 is more than just a rumor," said Joachim Schranzhofer, the head of communications at German defense company Hensoldt, in his conversation with Bild. "But it’s much easier to use the mission planning system – then the plane stays on the ground."
Wolfgang Ischinger, former president of the Munich Security Conference Foundation, expressed his concerns about the future of the contract. "If we have to fear that the US could do with future German F-35s what they are currently doing with Ukraine, we could consider terminating the contract," he stated, as quoted by the tabloid.
Concerns regarding a potential kill switch have also been shared by experts featured in the Financial Times. Defense analyst Richard Aboulafia noted that while there has never been confirmation of a kill switch's existence, "If you postulate the existence of something that can be done with a little bit of software code, it exists."
On the other hand, some argue that having a kill switch might be unnecessary due to the advanced nature of modern fighter jets and their reliance on the vendor. "Most European militaries depend heavily on the US for communications support, for electronic warfare support, and for ammunition resupply in any serious conflict," remarked Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, in his comments to the FT.
The fears surrounding the F-35s have intensified following the US's suspension of military and intelligence support for Ukraine, which was prompted by a dispute between Trump and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. During this disagreement, the US president accused Zelensky of lacking a desire for peace with Russia.
The F-35 program is considered the most expensive military initiative in history, with estimated lifetime costs surpassing $1.7 trillion. Since its inaugural flight in 2006, the program has faced numerous challenges, including cost overruns, delays, and reliability issues. To date, over 1,100 F-35s have been produced, with a significant number delivered to US allies.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
