The U.S. Department of Defense has denied the existence of any kill switches for the latest F-35 fighter jets.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II announced this on its official account.

The U.S. Department of Defense noted that while the systems on 5th-generation fighter jets are subject to some level of control by the United States and Lockheed Martin, disabling them does not deprive the aircraft of the ability to carry out flights and combat missions.

The statement followed reports from some Western media outlets claiming that the F-35 fighter jet is equipped with a kill switch, allowing the U.S. government or Lockheed Martin to remotely disable an entire fleet of aircraft if necessary.

Reports specifically highlighted the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) and the Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL), both managed by Lockheed Martin. However, these systems are designed solely for data collection and transmission rather than remote control of the aircraft.

ALIS, which handles diagnostics, logistics, and maintenance, provides Lockheed Martin with crucial information on potential issues, malfunctions, and overall system status. This ensures faster troubleshooting and more efficient aircraft servicing.

Meanwhile, MADL is a global communication system integrated with U.S. military networks, allowing any F-35 buyer to access a unified positioning and data-sharing system. This enhances coordination and facilitates joint operations during combat missions.

Despite being fully controlled by the U.S., these systems are more auxiliary in nature rather than essential for the aircraft’s full functionality and control.

According to official information, other onboard systems do not have any remote control capabilities, contrary to claims made by global media amid growing tensions between the U.S. and the European Union. This includes Germany, which plans to acquire F-35A fighter jets to replace the European Panavia Tornado IDS as a nuclear weapons carrier.

Militarnyi previously reported that Nuno Melo, Portugal’s Defense Minister, announced that the country was excluding the purchase of F-35 fighter jets, citing concerns over the unpredictability of U.S. policies and the current geopolitical climate.

He noted that, as an alternative to purchasing F-35s, European-made combat aircraft were under consideration.

As previously reported, Canada is reconsidering the purchase of F-35s amid tensions with the United States. This was stated by Bill Blair, Canada’s new Defense Minister, just a few hours after he was reappointed to this position as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet.