Gijs Tuinman, Secretary of State for Defense of the Netherlands, said that the fighter software F-35 it could be hacked and updated so that countries using the platform are not dependent on US support.
This statement was made by Tuinman in participation in the podcast Boekestijn and the Districtfrom the radio BNR News Radioas reported by the website The War Zone.
According to Tuinman, the aircraft’s closed digital system could, in theory, be unlocked to allow software updates by third-party developers.
“If, despite everything, you still want to upgrade, I’m going to say something I should never say, but I’m going to say it anyway: you can [hackear] one F-35 the same way as on an iPhone,” said Tuinman.
If these protections were circumvented, countries operating the F-35 could upgrade and modernize the aircraft’s combat systems independently.
Tuinman noted that he was discussing matters that he “probably never should have said publicly,” highlighting the sensitivity of the issue.
It is currently unknown whether there are actual technical means to gain access to the fighters or whether the statement was merely figurative.
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The issue of dependence on the United States is crucial, given that these aircraft are currently the only type of fighter in service in the Netherlands.
The aircraft’s complete digital integration with American infrastructure means that without authorization from Washington, D.C., the fleet’s operational capability could be quickly neutralized.
This comes after the president’s government Donald Trump adopting a series of policies that resulted in new diplomatic tensions with some long-time allies, especially in Europe.
BIG: Dutch Defence Minister Gijs Tuinman hints that software independence is possible for F-35 jets.
He literally said you can “jailbreak” an F-35.
When asked if Europe can modify it without US approval:
“That’s not the point… we’ll see whether the Americans will show… pic.twitter.com/f11cGvtYsO
— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 15, 2026
Photo and video: Dutch Ministry of Defense / X @clashreport. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
