America and Europe’s tensions are continuing over Greenland, trade and tariffs. As up and downs continue in Europe-America relationship, Netherlands’ top defense official has added a new variable into Europe’s debate over operational autonomy. And it is whether the software architecture of F-35 jets can be altered without US approval. Recently, State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman told BNR Nieuwsradio that the F-35 jet’s code could, in extremis, be “jailbroken,” comparing it to modifying an Apple iPhone’s iOS. “I’m going to say something I should never say, but I’ll do it anyway. Just like your iPhone, you can jailbreak an F-35,” Gijs Tuinman said at the BNR Nieuwsradio‘s “Boekestijn en de Wijk” podcast, which has been posted online. His remarks have been reported by Clash Report. As per the report, When asked if Europe can modify it without US approval: “That’s not the point… we’ll see whether the Americans will show their true colors.” Tuinman took office in July 2024. He reportedly stressed that no decision by Washington to interrupt software updates or supply chains has been made. Still, the vulnerability is reportedly structural. The F-35 jets are reported to rely on regular software updates, mission data files (MDFs), and a globally coordinated maintenance system.

Technical Barrier High

As per Clash Report, the technical barrier is quite high as the F-35 jet’s source code is said to exceed 8 million lines, protected by layered security. Analysis too has reportedly dismissed the idea of a simple “kill switch” as fiction, yet reliance on U.S.-managed updates remains central to the aircraft’s effectiveness.

When Denmark said it regrets purchase of F-35

Escalating disputes with the Trump administration, including threats of economic coercion and tariffs, have soured relations between Europe and America since last year. In March 2025, chairman of Denmark’s parliamentary defense committee, Rasmus Jarlov, wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he regrets selecting the F-35 stealth fighters for his country. Jarlov tweeted: “I don’t know if there is a kill switch in the F35s or not. We obviously can not take your word for it. As one of the decision-makers behind Denmark’s purchase of F35s, I regret it. The USA can certainly disable the planes by simply stopping the supply of spare parts. They want to strengthen Russia and weaken Europe and are showing that they are willing to do tremendous damage to peaceful and loyal allies like Canada just because they insist on existing as a country. I can easily imagine a situation where the USA will demand Greenland from Denmark and will threaten to deactivate our weapons and let Russia attack us when we refuse (which we will even in that situation). Therefore, buying American weapons is a security risk that we can not run. We will make enormous investments in air defense, fighter jets, artillery, and other weapons in the coming years, and we must avoid American weapons if at all possible. I encourage our allies and friends to do the same.”