Buying a plane but being banned by the United States? US mastery of F-35 fighter jet 'fatal switch' raises concerns among allies
2025-03-11
According to German media reports, after the United States stopped intelligence sharing with Ukraine, due to the lack of coordinates provided by the US, the Ukrainian military's "Hamas" high mobility rocket launcher and other American made weapons are difficult to carry out precise strikes on Russian targets. This has raised concerns among NATO allies, including Germany and Canada, that when their purchased US made F-35 fighter jets are put into use in the future, the US may also remotely paralyze its air power by cutting off logistics systems and maintenance support. The report, titled "Billions of Euros in Fighter Aircraft Transactions between Germany and the United States: Concerns Over Trump's' Kill Switch, '" pointed out that Germany has purchased 35 American made F-35 fighter jets, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. This so-called 'fatal switch' can be understood as a 'remote control permission' reserved by the United States. It is reported that the F-35 fighter jet relies on relevant systems developed by American manufacturers, which can collect data on the operation, maintenance, fuselage life prediction, parts supply, and other aspects of the F-35 fighter jet. Without US approval, many basic functions of the F-35 may be disabled, and the fighter jet may also be remotely paralyzed. According to reports, former German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger has issued a warning that Germany should consider canceling the contract if it is concerned that the United States may take similar actions against the German F-35 fighter jet in the future against Ukraine. In addition, several well-known German entrepreneurs recently jointly issued a position paper warning against the German military's plan to purchase US F-35 fighter jets, emphasizing that this will lead to Germany's "continued dependence" on the United States. In addition to Germany, the Canadian newspaper Ottawa Citizen recently reported that as US hostility towards Canada deepens, the Pentagon's control over Canada's F-35 fleet will become a major strategic weakness. According to reports, the Canadian government had previously planned to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets, with a total project value of up to $19 billion, and the first F-35 fighter jet will be delivered in 2028. (New Society)
Edit:Ou Xiaoling Responsible editor:Shu Hua
Source:CCTV
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