Dutch minister says F-35 jets could be “jailbroken” like iPhone

Dutch Defence Minister Gijs Tuinman caused a stir this week with remarks suggesting that Europe could achieve software independence for the F-35 fighter jets, drawing comparisons to “jailbreaking” an iPhone, media reports indicate.

During a podcast with BNR Nieuwsradio, Tuinman was asked whether Europe could modify the jets without approval from the United States. According to a transcript shared by the popular Clash Report page on X, he replied:

“That’s not the point... We’ll see whether the Americans will show their true colours.”

He went further, teasing a bold analogy:

“I'm going to say something I should never say, but I'll do it anyway. Just like your iPhone, you can jailbreak an F-35. I won't say more about it.”

Tuinman emphasised the multinational nature of the F-35 program, noting:

“The F-35 is truly a shared product. The British make the Rolls-Royce engines, and the Americans simply need them too.”

While he did not elaborate on the technical feasibility of “jailbreaking” the jets, his comments arrive amid a backdrop of strained trans-Atlantic relations and U.S. pressure on Europe to increase defense contributions and ensure security commitments.

Currently, Israel is the only country known to have successfully negotiated the right to install domestically-developed software on its F-35s. Despite this, the fighter remains widely regarded as the most advanced jet on the market.

Tuinman’s remarks have fueled speculation about Europe’s ability to assert greater control over its military hardware, highlighting both technological possibilities and diplomatic tensions surrounding the F-35 program.

By Tamilla Hasanova