Dutch Defense Minister Gijs Tuinman stated in an interview with BNR Nieuwsradio on 15/2: "I will say something that perhaps should not be said, that you can 'jailbreak' an F-35 like an iPhone if you want to update the software at all costs."

According to Tuinman, the F-35 stealth fighter jet's "electronic brain," which includes cloud components, could be "jailbroken" to accept third-party software updates, similar to how mobile phones are modified. He did not, however, provide details on this process.

It remains unclear whether Tuinman's statement implied a security vulnerability in the F-35's software or referred to potential measures if the US imposed restrictions on operator nations.

A Dutch F-35A fighter jet deployed in Poland in 8/2025. Photo: Dutch Ministry of Defense

The US F-35 Program Office (JPO) and manufacturer Lockheed Martin have not commented on this information.

The US imposes specific limitations on nations operating the F-35, particularly concerning their ability to modify software and related ground systems.

Almost all F-35 fighter jets currently receive software updates via a cloud computing platform. The original network, named Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), is transitioning to the Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN) due to persistent issues.

ALIS/ODIN shares detailed information on enemy air defense systems and intelligence data, which is critical for the F-35's survivability in each mission. The system also provides data on the operational range of F-35 sensors and weapons, along with coordination tactics between the fighter jet and allied forces.

Tyler Rogoway, editor of the US military specialized publication War Zone, stated: "This is one of the F-35's most powerful capabilities. Without ALIS/ODIN, pilots and fighter jets would struggle to optimize their capabilities and would be more vulnerable to enemy fire."

Last year, many experts and former European officials expressed concern that F-35 fleets sold by the US to foreign nations might include a "kill switch" for remote deactivation. Defense corporation Lockheed Martin asserted this was "just a rumor," and officials from some NATO nations operating the F-35 also stated these suspicions were baseless.

Military experts suggest the US could disable F-35 fleets abroad without a "kill switch" by suspending logistical and technical support, cutting off access to ALIS/ODIN, and space communication networks.

Joseph Trevithick, an analyst for War Zone, believes that "jailbreaking" the F-35's software and the ALIS/ODIN system is technically feasible. He stated: "The big question is whether that nation could re-establish the entire ecosystem supporting F-35 operations."

Thanh Tam (According to War Zone)