The F-35’s software could be ‘jailbroken’ much in the same way as an iPhone or a video game console, according to Dutch Defense Minister Gijs Tuinman.
The comment comes at a time of rising diplomatic tension between the US and its traditional European allies. While it’s not clear whether this indicates a cybersecurity vulnerability within the F-35 program, the comments highlight concern over Europe’s overreliance on US military technology.
A ‘jailbroken’ F-35
The Trump administration’s abrasive approach to foreign policy has led to serious questions regarding Europe’s military might and its self-sufficiency. The F-35 aircraft famously relies on ‘just-in-time’ logistics when it comes to maintenance and spare parts.
As more than 10 nations in Europe are participating in the F-35 program, this raises concerns related to Trump’s tariff-heavy diplomacy.
“If, despite everything, you still want to upgrade, I’m going to say something I should never say, but I will anyway: you can jailbreak an F-35 just like an iPhone,” Gijs Tuinman said during an episode of BNR Nieuwsradio‘s “Boekestijn en de Wijk” podcast, according to a translation from The War Zone.
During the podcast, Tuinman did not offer any specific details regarding the jailbreaking process. It is also unclear whether this indicates the F-35 suffers from serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Jailbreaking in this context refers to a process that removes software restrictions placed on a piece of hardware. As such, jailbreaking an F-35 would allow a nation to customize the jet’s software without authorization.
Europe’s overreliance on US military tech
The US’s F-53 program purposefully limits the changes foreign customers can make to the jet’s software. To date, only Israel is known to have successfully negotiated a deal allowing it to install proprietary software into its F-35s.
As The War Zone reports, almost all F-35s currently in service are updated via a cloud-based network, originally known as the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS). However, a string of issues with that service led to the development of a replacement called the Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN).
Using this cloud-based network, the F-35 program uploads mission data packages containing highly sensitive information, including details about enemy defenses. As such, a cybersecurity failure in the F-35 program would be a serious breach that could jeopardize the integrity of planned and upcoming missions.
Tuinman’s comments also highlight concerns over Europe’s overreliance on US military technologies. The mere fact he was discussing the possibility of jailbreaking an F-35 suggests the Dutch military has seriously considered the implications of Europe being cut off from the US amid rising geopolitical tensions.
In recent months, prominent European politicians have called for the continent’s industry to move to a “war economy”. France’s President Emmanuel Macron, for example, has gone on record criticizing the nation’s industry, stating that it must produce faster and more efficiently.