Suspicions of a Fighter Jet "Kill Switch"
"US Trust Hits Rock Bottom"
As distrust in the Donald Trump administration grows, allies in Europe and elsewhere are hesitating to purchase the fifth-generation jet fighter F-35.
On the 23rd (local time), the UK Telegraph pointed out that "the Trump administration seems to be distancing itself from Europe and, by some standards, moving closer to Russia, causing trust in the US security umbrella to rapidly erode." It also raised doubts about whether the F-35 will become the 'new Tesla' amid changes in US foreign policy.
Just as the once-popular electric car Tesla recently became the target of a boycott, allies such as those in Europe may decide not to place additional orders for the F-35, developed by the US Air Force and Lockheed Martin.
The F-35 can be produced at a rate of about 150 units per year. However, as Europe pushes to strengthen its own defense industry capabilities, major allies have expressed doubts about whether they should continue ordering the F-35 in the future. France announced plans last week to significantly increase its domestic jet fighter production.
Moreover, on the 21st, President Trump revealed the development plan for the sixth-generation jet fighter F-47, being developed by the US Air Force and Boeing, stating that a downgraded version would be supplied to allies because "they might not be our allies someday."
In response, allies expressed concerns that even if they purchase the F-35 from the US, they might not be able to continue operating it if the US cuts off repair parts and software updates. There are even claims that the US and Lockheed Martin may have installed a 'kill switch' in the F-35 that can remotely disable the fighter with a simple command. However, Lockheed Martin has strongly denied these allegations.
Canada signed a plan in 2023 to acquire a total of 88 F-35s but has recently indicated intentions to reconsider this. Nuno Melo, Portugal's Minister of Defense, also announced a suspension of F-35 purchases, stating, "The recent stance of the United States within NATO makes us think about what is the best choice for us," and added, "The predictability of our alliance should be considered a greater asset compared to other factors."
However, aerospace analyst John Heller pointed out that although alternatives such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen, and South Korea's KF-21 exist, all fall short in performance compared to the F-35.
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