Dutch State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman has drawn attention to potential vulnerabilities in the F-35 fighter jet, likening the aircraft’s digital architecture to that of a consumer smartphone. Speaking on BNR radio, he acknowledged that the jet could theoretically be hacked in much the same way as an iPhone — a comparison he admitted was not something he would normally say publicly.

His remarks went beyond cybersecurity. Tuinman also addressed the ongoing challenges of integrating European-made weapons into the U.S.-built aircraft. In particular, he pointed to difficulties adapting the F-35 to carry missiles such as Meteor, Storm Shadow and Scalp/SCALP-EG. According to him, the modernization process is moving too slowly, raising concerns among European operators.

Against this backdrop, Tuinman argued that European countries should take a more active role in refining the jet’s software to better suit their own operational requirements. He suggested that such technical adjustments could, in principle, be carried out independently. However, the decisive factor remains whether permission for this level of involvement would be granted.

He added that if the Netherlands were to coordinate efforts with Norway and Poland, it would become clearer how ready the United States is to define its position on the matter.