• thanksforallthefish@literature.cafe
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      17
      ·
      26 days ago

      There is no PROVEN kill switch - there have been accusations of it from senior German and Swiss personnel in a position to know (amongst others).

      However it doesn’t matter, there is a publicly acknowledged issue that works out to pretty much the same - if the US attacks a country with F-35s those planes are functionally worthless very quickly

      The ALIS/ODIN system means the US can unilaterally change what is friendly/foe, what is recognised or ignored etc, and if the regular communications for updates aren’t maintained the plane goes into the equivalent of your car’s “limp home” mode.

      TL;DR a hostile US can in advance of an attack (for example) tell your F-35s that all Gripens are hostile, and that X set of “friendly” beacons are now hostile and there’s not a damn thing you can do other than not fly the plane. No one other than Israel got an over-ride - because they refused to take the software.

      https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/the-f-35-probably-doesnt-have-a-physical-kill-switch-but-it-doesnt-need-one/

      Edit to add “(for example)” as it was unclear that that was just an example of the many things they could do

      • peoplebeproblems@midwest.social
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        26 days ago

        It would be quite hilarious if it turned out every single operator took that into consideration and secretly deployed countermeasures to nullify that tactic.

        Imagine a wing showing up prepared for no resistance and they run straight into it.

        • thanksforallthefish@literature.cafe
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          26 days ago

          It would I imagine look a little like the first 48hours of the Russian attack on Kyiv where the Russians turned up with a brass band in dress uniforms (unarmed unless you count trumpets and drumsticks).

          Would love to see it

      • Evil_Shrubbery@thelemmy.club
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        25 days ago

        It’s about licenses & you are not allowed to.

        A lot of F35 bits the USA air force isn’t allowed to even fix bcs licensing & it has to be done by manufacturer.

        Bcs monies.

        • HereIAm@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          26 days ago

          “Planes do not work like that”. Making a statement like that makes it sound like you would know.

          Is it likely there’s a remote kill switch? No. But doesn’t mean one couldn’t exist.

          • gustofwind@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            26 days ago

            Another commenter accurately pointed out the real problem with using American military hardware is being reliant on the integrated cyber warfare systems exclusively controlled by America

            You’re the one claiming without evidence there is a kill switch which is again not how the planes work and also ignores the actual problem we already know about

        • Itdidnttrickledown@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          25 days ago

          I’m not the one talking with such certainty. What is known is that they are present in civilian cars. No reason why they wouldn’t slip one into a weapons platform. You are so sure it doesn’t work that way you better have first hand knowledge or look foolish.

      • frongt@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        26 days ago

        Software yes. Hardware, it’s really hard to hide an antenna big enough to pick up such a signal at the necessary range.