(NO) Kill Switch (UPDATED)

‘On popular request’, a 'thought or two' to the issue of, meanwhile, much famed (and feared) 'kill switches' in US equipment delivered to Ukraine...

There's none of that.

It's as simple as that.

Especially not in F-16s.

But... F-16s are a US design, made of US-made parts, and the USA are retaining the right to prohibit their export, re-export etc. Or the export/supply of spare parts for them - so also in the case of parts manufactured outside the USA (like those made by Fokker of The Netherlands, just for example).

So, if the USA say: 'no spare parts for Ukrainian F-16s'... then, there goes the spare supply for Ukrainian F-16...

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Something similar is valid for weaponry like Storm Shadow. Essentially, Ukraine never has 'stocks' of these. The 'men in black' (MiB) somewhere 'west of Ukraine' program the weapons and then bring them to the border. The Ukrainians pick them up, bring them to their base, install them on Su-24s (or Mirages) and there they go: the mission is flown.

Now, the Storm Shadow is a British product. But, it contains US-made components. So, if the USA say, 'no Storm Shadow to Ukraine'...well, then then the British have to shut up and deliver none.

To a certain degree, early after the ZSU has received its M142 HIMARS, it was dependent on the USA to program these, too. See: 'men in black' would come, enter target coordinates into the weapons etc... Meanwhile, Ukrainians can do that on their own.

Of course, they can do so only as long as the USA are still delivering missiles and rockets for M142s...

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Then there are weapons systems that can be 'strongly influenced' by the USA. Even turned off.

For example: in the case of F-35.. (which, fortunately, Ukraine hasn't got).

Essentially, 'buying' F-35s is like 'buying' your PC or smartphone.

Officially at least (check the contract you've signed) you do not 'buy', but 'lease' that smartphone. The 'owner' is granting you the right of use in exchange for your payment. And the 'owner' is then providing software updates.

Lockheed-Martin has the full control over all the software for F-35 (is one of reasons why the jet is that expensive: constant maintenance and upgrades of software, which is so complex that the US government considers it a 'weapons system' on its own). Moreover, the software on export F-35s (except Israel's, of course), is 'dumbed down' - and it’s maintained in centralised fashion.

Means: if Dumpf issues such an order, the LM can literally ‘turn off’ - ground - the entire fleet of F-35s exported, for example, to EU-members that are also NATO-members. Indeed, in this regards, the Lockheed-Martin has so much control over the software, that it can literally turn off single, selected F-35s. Own (those operated by US services) and/or those of export customers.

Sure, export customers have the option to disconnect their F-35s from the centralised software system. However, then the jet is also dumbed down: operational, but with much reduced capabilities.

Bottom line: as long as the USA are still friendly - and other people and nations doing what the USA demand - Lockheed-Martin is continuing to provide software updates for F-35s.

...but, what if the USA/LM turn off YOUR very F-35/35s…?

That said, F-16s - and then especially such old examples like delivered to Ukraine - are not that advanced, nor connected to any similar kind of centrally-operated software systems, like F-35s are.

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Finally, there's lots of GPS-guided/assisted ammunition (not only Storm Shadows, but also SCALP-EG, M142 HIMARS, M270 MLRS, GLMRS etc., etc. etc.). As long as the USA are providing 'military grade' GPS-service to Ukraine: everything's fine.

But, if not... sigh...

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(Obviously, my wife shouldn't leave me home alone on Saturday evenings more often...)