As the rift between the United States and the European Union continues to widen, German security experts are concerned that the Donald Trump administration could pull a “kill switch” on the F-35 Lightning II fighters that Germany is acquiring from the United States.
Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Germany decided to procure 35 F-35 jets from the United States in March 2022, along with missiles and other armaments, for about 10 billion euros (US$10.89 billion).
The move marked the culmination of German efforts to replace its aging fleet of Tornado fighter jets.
The first F-35 will be delivered to the German Bundeswehr in the United States in 2026. The remaining fighter jets will be delivered to the Luftwaffe in Germany in 2027 and the service will commence training on these jets in the US in 2026 or 2027.
In addition to the 35 fighter jets, an unknown military source told Reuters in June 2024 that Germany is considering purchasing eight more F-35s from American defense firm Lockheed Martin.
Additionally, Germany was also understood to be contemplating replacing its nuclear-capable Tornado fighters with the certified nuclear-capable F-35s. German Luftwaffe said in March 2024 that obtaining nuclear certification for the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) was a key factor for purchasing the aircraft.
However, with tensions now brewing between the Donald Trump administration and the countries in the European Union, Germany might be scrutinizing the purchase of American stealth fighters, according to media claims.
Trump’s recent decisions aimed at taming Ukraine have heightened concerns that he could use a “kill switch” on the German F-35 fighters to impose his political interests on Germany, as recently reported by German publication BILD.
A kill switch is typically believed to be a software-based backdoor mechanism which could be used by the supplier of a technology to disable or deteriorate the operation of a system, in this particular case, the F-35 stealth fighter jets.
Although there have been rumors of a US-controlled kill switch in the F-35 for some time, the US halting military aid to Ukraine has fuelled concerns that it could be used against allies operating the F-35.
Joachim Schranzhofer, head of communications at defense company Hensoldt, was quoted by BILD as saying, “The F-35 kill switch is not just a rumor. A simpler way is through a mission planning system that will not allow the fighter to land.”
EurAsian Times could not independently verify these claims.
However, defense and security experts in Germany appear to be paranoid about US intentions. The ex-chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, told BILD, “If we should fear that the US would make with the future German F-35 [jets] the same as they do in Ukraine now, then the issue of contract cancellation may be considered.”
However, these concerns were dismissed by officials from Switzerland and Belgium, which have also purchased the F-35 Lightning II. The Swiss Department of Defense said that the US cannot jam the F-35 aircraft and assured that its operators can fly it independently, as reported by The Telegraph.
Gen Frederik Vansina, Belgium’s chief of defence, took a more stern tone and said that the F-35 was not a remote-controlled aircraft.
Even though the alarm about a supposed kill switch may be unfounded, there is also concern that the US administration could pause the delivery of critical parts for the aircraft, much like it did with Ukraine.
According to reports, Ukraine will not receive the radar jammers used in the F-16 fighters it operates, which will deny the Ukrainian air force its most crucial aerial countermeasures at a critical juncture in the war.
Earlier, Canada had expressed similar concerns, as reported by local Canadian publication Ottawa Citizen. Some sections in Canada have raised alarm that the US could indirectly control Canada’s F-35 fleet as it could control the hardware and software upgrades needed to keep the aircraft flying.
However, the Canadian Department of National Defense (DND) also denied allegations that the US had a kill switch on the aircraft.
Having said that, the Bundeswehr has not acknowledged or endorsed the concerns expressed in Germany. However, they stem from a deeply fractured relationship between the United States and European countries, including France and Germany, over Washington’s treatment of Ukraine in recent times.
Transatlantic Relationship Is Under Stress
The cracks in the Transatlantic relationship have been appearing since US President Donald Trump was elected. However, these cracks became fully exposed when the Trump administration held discussions with the Russians over ending the Ukraine War without any representation from Ukraine or the European Union.
Later, a bitter spat occurred between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance at the Oval Office, with the latter cornering Zelensky.
Shunned by the United States, Zelenskyy received support from its European partners, including Germany, France, and others. At a summit in London in early March, European leaders united for showing solidarity with Kyiv, promising to increase defense spending and forming a coalition to protect a potential truce in Ukraine. With 18 allies in attendance, the summit discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, in the event of a ceasefire.
The US also announced that it was halting all military aid to Ukraine and ending intelligence-sharing mechanisms with the country, further triggering tensions between the US and the European Union. Moreover, there is a growing sentiment and concern across Europe that Washington could abandon its allies in case of differences.
Europe has now pledged a defense spending surge amid threats posed by Russia. EU leaders closed ranks last week to boost the bloc’s defenses. “We are moving decisively towards a strong and more sovereign Europe of defence,” Antonio Costa, who heads the Council of the EU’s 27 states, told reporters after the talks.
Not just that, top intelligence experts in the Bundestag are advocating for a European espionage network and cautioning that, in the face of increasing uncertainty, Europe cannot rely on US intelligence.
Germany, for one, has been at the forefront of criticising the Donald Trump administration’s policies for Europe. Late last month, Friedrich Merz, the incoming Chancellor of Germany, vowed independence from the United States. “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can achieve independence from the USA,” Germany’s new chancellor said.
The head of the German parliament’s intelligence oversight committee, Konstantin von Notz, called on Germany and its European partners to set up their network for exchanging intelligence, as reported by POLITICO. “We need a European intelligence cooperation format — call it ‘Euro Eyes’ — to ensure that strong states can exchange information swiftly and securely on clear legal grounds,” he told the publication.
The sudden decision by CIA to halt intel sharing with Ukraine, which Director John Ratcliffe confirmed last week, raised fears that Germany could also be subject to similar limitations, endangering the security of Europe.
Additionally, as transatlantic relations reach a new low, the European Union is facing pressure to improve its technological capabilities and wean itself off of a significant reliance on digital infrastructure and services from the US. The hysteria over the kill switch appears to be a byproduct of this trust deficit.
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