Welcome to the comprehensive information platform on the F-35 Lightning II, with a particular focus on Switzerland's procurement under the Air2030 programme.
| Procurement | Current State | Problem Areas | Options | Press Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How Switzerland chose the F-35 | What the F-35 is | What is not working | What next? | Sources and media |
"Like jailbreaking an iPhone" -- Dutch Defence State Secretary Gijs Tuinman stated in June 2025 that the F-35 software can be "jailbroken like an iPhone" to achieve software sovereignty from the United States. The statement highlights the fundamental dependency problem facing all F-35 buyer nations: the software is entirely controlled by the US. A jailbreak carries significant risks -- loss of warranty, exclusion from software updates, and potential spare-parts embargo by Lockheed Martin. Israel remains the only country with a contractual right to independent software modification.
→ See: Dependency on the USA · Kill-Switch Debate and Sovereignty
F-35 Procurement Cost Explosion: The United States claimed additional costs of CHF 0.65 to 1.3 billion for the 36 F-35A in 2025. The fixed-price guarantee communicated at contract conclusion proved legally unenforceable. On 12 December 2025, the Federal Council decided to procure the maximum possible number of F-35A within the existing financial framework of CHF 6 billion -- approximately 30 instead of the originally planned 36 aircraft.
Technical Systems:
International Experience:
Costs and Finances:
Technical Deficits:
Sovereignty and Dependency:
Procurement Agency and Transparency:
This wiki is based on publicly available sources, official government documents, peer-reviewed publications and recognised specialist journals.
Latest press review entry: Watson, 27.02.2026: After US visit — Questions on F-35 procurement remain open