The F-35 is a premier fifth-generation aircraft considered unmatched in all fixed-wing aircraft. Lockheed Martin perfected different variants of the F-35 that are in use by various American allies today.
The current second Trump Administration brought controversial actions by not only scalding Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky live on television but also openly attacking allies and favoring adversaries like Russia—making longtime American partners reassess their national security interests.
Fears started by rumors about the F-35 having a kill switch have put American allies worried about potential restrictions Washington could enact, as the Trump Administration openly has a far different worldview than most other leaders. Though the F-35 doesn’t have a physical kill switch, the aircraft has a major kryptonite that can be used against allies.
Rumors Over the F-35
Various reports surfaced about plans that Portugal may ditch their planned F-35 purchase because of a “kill switch” that could shut off the premier fifth-generation aircraft completely. Lockheed Martin officially addressed the rumors as false, and further media reports would confirm the myth.
Washington’s Joint Program Office (JPO) further stated that all F-35 consumers can navigate and operate the fifth-generation aircraft effectively with its autonomy. Various aviation and defense publications also rebutted the misinformation about a kill switch.
There is No Kill Switch, but the U.S. Can Block Maintenance and Upgrades
Though the F-35 doesn’t have a physical kill switch, the U.S. government can limit the fifth-generation fighter’s long-term effectiveness by limiting its logistics, maintenance, and software upgrades.
An aircraft is only as good as the maintenance crew and kits it receives, or the fixed wing will ultimately degrade into irrelevance. Aircraft maintenance, particularly for the F-35, ensures flight safety, mitigates future risks, and enhances operational efficiency.
If maintenance kits and upgrades aren’t provided, an F-35 squadron could be rendered combat ineffective, and other rivals, such as the Russian-made SU-57 or Chinese-made J-36, could potentially have an edge over the fifth-generation fighter.
Examples of Prior Defense Interruptions
Withholding maintenance kits and upgrades previously had major effects on allied nations. One such country was Turkey, which led to a major, several-year diplomatic conflict and dispute.
During the height of the Syrian Civil War, the United States and Turkey drifted apart as both Washington and Ankara held two differential operational aims. Whereas the U.S. wanted to support armed Kurdish factions, such as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIS, Turkey objected as a large portion of the organization holds ties to the PKK.
The disengagement between Washington and Ankara led to the U.S. government canceling its Patriot missile contract with Turkey. The Turkish government would retaliate against the embargo by purchasing the Russian-made S400 air defense system, much to America’s condemnation, which only brought sanctions and canceled Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program and F-16 Block-70 upgrades.
To lift the F-16 embargo, Ankara would have to use its one trump card against Washington, which ultimately was its NATO veto. When Sweden applied for NATO membership, Turkey held the former’s ascension in purgatory. Though Ankara claimed it was due to Stockholm being a haven for PKK and Turkish dissidents, Washington lifted the F-16 upgrades embargo, which allowed Sweden to become a NATO member.
Against the rift between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump, the latter paused significant portions of military aid, affecting American-made jets, such as the European-donated F-16s. Built by Lockheed Martin, much of Ukraine’s missiles for the F-16s come from the U.S., and without significant portions donated amidst the Administration’s more pro-Russian stance, Ukrainian cities face an even greater threat of Russian bombardment as the current F-16 fleet is used more for air defense.
Effects on the U.S. Defense Industry Going Forward
There is a backlog of 400 F-35 aircraft to be exported to various allies. With ongoing rifts between the Administration and its allies, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. could lose hundreds of billions in future defense contracts and jobs as America will no longer be reliable.
Fears of maintenance kits being withheld could become a reality, and the President’s current rhetoric hinted that Washington could sell less equipped aircraft for partners that could potentially no longer be allies in the future. Though the F-35 is elite amongst fifth-generation aircraft, many customers could use the French, Swedish, and South Korean defense industries as an alternative.
The South Korean government recently stated that they would give Canada new arms without conditions on upgrades and maintenance, and the French-made Mirage has become a significant alternative during the war in Ukraine amidst strong-arm tactics by Washington. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin, already on damage control, offered new incentives to Canada if Ottawa continued with the F-35 program—showing the significance of Washington’s foreign policy mishaps.
Overall, the F-35 does not have a kill switch because the U.S. government has displayed its rift with allies, and the ability to withhold upgrades, software, missiles, and maintenance is the true ‘off switch.’ As America increasingly displays it might not be a reliable ally, Europe, Canada, and the Indo-Pacific will look for alternatives in defense procurement, which will only cost Americans tens of thousands of jobs and billions in lost income.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
Julian McBride is a forensic anthropologist and independent journalist born in New York. He is the founder and director of the Reflections of War Initiative (ROW), an anthropological NGO which aims to tell the stories of the victims of war through art therapy. As a former Marine, he uses this technique not only to help heal PTSD but also to share people’s stories through art, which conveys “the message of the brutality of war better than most news organizations.”
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