The Dutch Ministry of Defence is facing questions after State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman suggested the F-35 fighter jet’s software could be circumvented, allowing for independent modifications. Tuinman made the remarks during a February 15th broadcast on BNR Nieuwsradio, stating that the aircraft could be “jailbroken” like an iPhone, potentially enabling the installation of third-party software updates without U.S. Approval.
The comments sparked immediate reaction, with concerns raised about the implications for the Netherlands’ relationship with the United States and the security of the F-35 platform. According to reporting from BNR, Tuinman’s statement came in response to questions about the Netherlands’ reliance on the U.S. For software updates and maintenance, particularly given increasing geopolitical tensions.
Defence expert Ko Colijn, speaking to NU.nl on February 18th, highlighted the F-35’s dependence on American technology as a critical vulnerability. Colijn noted that all flight data, maintenance information, and targeting data flows through a secure U.S. Database, effectively integrating the Royal Netherlands Air Force into a U.S.-controlled ecosystem. He pointed out that Israel is the only known nation to have achieved a degree of autonomy through the development of its own software.
Tuinman’s suggestion that the F-35 could be “jailbroken” – a term referring to the process of removing software restrictions on mobile devices – has been met with skepticism. The Aviationist reported that the claim’s veracity is unverifiable from an outside perspective. The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin have not yet publicly responded to Tuinman’s remarks, as of February 25, 2026.
The Netherlands currently operates 47 F-35A Lightning II aircraft, with 39 stationed at Leeuwarden and Volkel airbases, and an additional eight undergoing training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The country has ordered a total of 57 F-35s, increasing its initial commitment of 33 aircraft. The rising costs and complexity of the F-35 program have previously drawn criticism from the Dutch General Accounting Office, which warned of the financial strain on other branches of the armed forces, as reported by NU.nl.
The potential for modifying the F-35 software without U.S. Approval is particularly relevant given the aircraft’s nuclear role at Volkel airbase. The base is intended to house U.S. Nuclear weapons, but in a conflict, airbases would be prime targets, potentially jeopardizing the survival of aircrews.
Demissionary State Secretary Tuinman’s comments followed a February 14th podcast appearance where he alluded to the possibility of bypassing U.S. Software controls to accelerate the integration of European weapons systems onto the F-35, as reported by De Telegraaf. The remarks have been described as “a very strange statement” by Dick Berlijn on NPO Radio 1.
