Dutch State Secretary of Defense Gijs Tweenman said that the "computer brain" of the F-35 fighter jet, including its cloud components, can theoretically be "jailbroken" to accept third-party software updates - a comparison he made to unlocking a smartphone.
"If you still want to upgrade, I'll tell you something I should never say, but I'll say it anyway: you can jailbreak the F-35 just like you can jailbreak an iPhone," Twinman said on BNR Nieuwsradio's "Boekestijn en de Wijk" podcast, as quoted by War Zone. He did not provide technical details, and it is unclear whether he was speaking literally or hypothetically.
The statement comes amid increased pressure on foreign F-35 operators about their dependence on American support, especially after policies of the administration of President Donald Trump that have led to new diplomatic tensions with European allies.
The F-35 program places strict limits on software changes by operators. Almost all aircraft receive updates through the ALIS cloud-based logistics network, which is gradually being replaced by the ODIN system. This infrastructure not only delivers software, but also uploads sensitive mission planning packages - including air defense and intelligence data - and extracts operational information after flights.
Experts emphasize that it is these packages that are key to the aircraft's combat effectiveness. Without them, pilots lose a significant part of the ability to use stealth, sensors and tactics in an integrated environment, which increases the risk of detection and downing.
Israel remains the only country that has negotiated the right to install its own software on the F-35I version and operate outside the ALIS/ODIN network, as well as to perform independent maintenance at the depot level.
Other operators, including the Netherlands, have already limited their own reprogramming activities due to concerns about the transfer of sensitive national data, but work continues in the United States under the control of the US military and manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
Analysts note that even a theoretical "jailbreak" would not solve the main problem - dependence on US supply chains and spare parts, which are under export control. Without them, the aircraft would be quickly grounded. Such a move would also risk legal action from Lockheed Martin and further political tension with Washington.
The debate is intensifying amid broader questions about the future of American defense exports. Canada is already reviewing its plans to acquire the F-35 after trade disputes with the United States, and European countries are assessing their strategic dependence.
However, Twinman stressed that the aircraft remains a leading platform: "Even if that interdependence does not lead to software updates, the F-35, in its current state, is still a better aircraft than other types of fighter jets."