Gijs Tuinman, Dutch Secretary of State for Defence, said that the software to F-35-fighters can be hacked and updated so that countries using the platform are not dependent on US support.
This statement was made by Tuinman in the podcast Boekestijn and the District on the radio BNR News Radioreported by The War Zone.
According to Tuinman, the aircraft’s closed digital system could theoretically be opened to allow software updates from third-party developers.
“If you still want to update, I’ll say something I should never have said, but I’ll say it anyway: you can [hacke] in F-35 just like an iPhone,” Tuinman said.
If these protections are circumvented, countries operating F-35 independently update and modernize the aircraft’s combat systems.
Tuinman noted that he discussed matters he “probably never should have said publicly,” and emphasized how sensitive the topic is.
It is currently unclear if there are real technical ways to access the planes, or if the statement was merely figurative.
Dependence on the US is crucial, as these aircraft are currently the only type of fighter in service in the Netherlands.
Full digital integration of the aircraft with US infrastructure means that without permission from Washington DC, the operational capacity of the fleet can be quickly neutralized.
This follows the policy of the President Donald Trumpwhich has led to new diplomatic tensions with some longtime allies, particularly 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 AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
