alt Hacker NewsMy understanding is that F-35's come with a deployment of US personnel that hold the encryption keys necessary to program the flight computers. You're always flying these at the mercy of the US. Not to mention the dependency of modern fighter craft on a steady supply of parts.
I don't believe that is the case however since this is a very complex aircraft the only place you can get parts/service is from Lockheed and they are under US jurisdiction. If the US can force Microsoft to sanction an ICJ prosecutor then they can tell Lockheed to not service an aircraft.