this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2025
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[–] realitista@lemmy.world -3 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Good to see UK step up in this regard, Europe needs to bolster its own nuclear deterrent independent of the USA as the USA is no longer a trustable partner.

[–] Humanius@lemmy.world 34 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I'm not sure if buying American equipment is a good way to rid ourselves of our dependence on America.
It allows America to control our supply of spare parts and software updates, and it doesn't bolster the European defence industry.

[–] realitista@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Obviously having an EU alternative to the F35 would be ideal, but it will take a long time and a lot of money to develop. For now there isn't another option.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

"According to the October 2024 report from the NNSA, it has also been certified to fly on the B-2, F-16, and German Air Force PA-200 Tornado jets, and is working towards certification on the Italian Air Force’s Tornados and the US Air Force’s B-21 bomber."

Meaning the German PA-200 the UK just retired in 2019 could have been certified to carry those warheads... But you probably would rather have warheads not made in America either

[–] remon@ani.social 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The airframes are at the end of their life, Germany is getting F-35s specifically to replace the ageing Tornados as well.

[–] rumimevlevi@lemmings.world 1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Is russia attacking the uk eminent?

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 5 points 22 hours ago

Probably not, although Russia keeps jerking off to fan fiction about nuking a tidal wave across the island.

[–] OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (3 children)

What does the EU have to do with the UK?

[–] remon@ani.social 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

A history of joint airplane development.

[–] realitista@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago

Okay replace EU with Europe

[–] Aliktren@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago

Theyre not a facist state

[–] remon@ani.social 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

A lot of the F-35 parts are produced in Europe, it's mostly the software that is a concern. But it's not like there are any alternatives right now. Developing a new European plane will take decades.

[–] warrenson@lemmy.nz 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I would think the software would be a little more concerning, if there is any truth to this article https://eutoday.net/germany-concerned-over-f-35-kill-switch/

[–] remon@ani.social 2 points 1 day ago

As I said, there are some concerns, but no, there is no out-right "kill switch" or any remote control capability.

Really the biggest risk is the US withholding future software updates for a while, forcing operators to implement their own software packages for those the US will no longer provide updates for.

[–] OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

Yeah bolster your military with a jet fighter that requires updates from a single source controlled by another country. I'm sure there will never be a problem with that arrangement

[–] koper@feddit.nl 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] realitista@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

As opposed to what alternative? Do you have a European 5th generation stealth fighter bomber in your pocket that you've been keeping secret?

[–] OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's the spirit! Lock in to a multi-billion dollar contract for jets that are still largely delayed for delivery under other contracts because "what other choice do we have?"

At least the F35 makes sense for Europe given its range, but having one option and one option only is a massive problem. Europe/UK should really develop their own, instead of creating a deadline for no reason and compromising to meet that artificial deadline. If an enemy finds a flaw in the F35 and everyone is overcommitted to the F35 then what, we all shit the bed and hope our new overlords are merciful?

[–] realitista@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago

I think this will happen eventually, but we have immediate threats which need to be countered with what's available today, we can't wait 20 years to do something about them.

[–] FishFace@lemmy.world 4 points 23 hours ago

Never mind the American planes... these planes if nuclear-armed will be armed with American-owned bombs that will require American authorisation to arm.

[–] Visstix@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The USA can remotely deactivate those airplanes though.

[–] realitista@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's never been verified and pretty much every European defense expert has stated that it's not the case.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

Has anyone actually said it's impossible? We're talking about 8 million lines of absolutely proprietary code; it's not.

The US has not advertised any such capability, though.

[–] realitista@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Well yes proving a negative is usually not possible. In this case maybe it is but it would be such exhaustive work that no one would probably trust the result anyway.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

Yep. And the US has every incentive and opportunity to include some such thing. Up until now, allied nations have just assumed scenarios where they'd use it against us were impossible.