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F-35 software could be jailbreaked like an iPhone: Dutch Defense Secretary

A U.S. Airman performs preflight checks on an F-35A lightning II during a Red Flag-Nellis 26-1 night sortie at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 9, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Betty R. Chevalier)

By Joseph Trevithick

The F-35’s ‘computer brain,’ including its cloud-based components, could be cracked to accept third-party software updates, just like ‘jailbreaking‘ a cellphone, according to the Dutch State Secretary for Defense.

The statement comes as foreign operators of the jets continue to be pressed on what could happen if the United States were ever to cut off support. President Donald Trump’s administration has pursued a number of policies that have resulted in new diplomatic strains with some long-time allies, especially in Europe.

“If, despite everything, you still want to upgrade, I’m going to say something I should never say, but I will anyway: you can jailbreak an F-35 just like an iPhone,” Gijs Tuinman said during an episode of BNR Nieuwsradio‘s “Boekestijn en de Wijk” podcast posted online yesterday, according to a machine translation.

Read more at The War Zone

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