'F-35 fighter jets may or may not have a 'kill switch', but buying US weapons is a security risk'

 Amid reports that Canada is reviewing its $19 billion contract for 88 F-35 fighter jets and Portugal too is reportedly reconsidering the potential acquisition of F-35s to replace its aging F-16s, another country has expressed reservations about the purchase of the fifth-generation, multi-role stealth fighter from the US defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Member of Danish Parliament Rasmus Jarlov, who claims to be one of the decision makers behind Denmark's purchase of F-35s, said he regrets the purchase and encouraged the country's “allies and friends” to reconsider the possible acquisition as “buying American weapons is a security risk that we can not run.”

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Lockheed Martin and the Danish Armed Forces have been partners since the 1950s, with the T-33 Shooting Star, F-104 Starfighter, C-130 Hercules and F-16 Fighting Falcon. According to the company, "Denmark is an essential partner in F-35 production, development and sustainment activities."

Jarlov's remarks come amid rumours of the fighter jet having a "kill switch" which would make it possible for the US to disable or limit the capabilities of F-35s sold to other countries. While the company and a few other nations attempted to clarify that there is no such switch, Jarlov, in a social media post, said, "I don't know if there is a kill switch in the F35’s or not. We obviously can not take your word for it."

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He pointed out that while there may not be a "kill switch" the US can disable the fighter jets simply by stopping the supply of spare parts.

"They want to strengthen Russia and weaken Europe and are showing that they are willing to do tremendous damage to peaceful and loyal allies like Canada just because they insist on existing as a country," he wrote.

He said he could imagine a situation where the US would demand Greenland from Denmark and threaten to deactivate the country's weapons and let Russia attack Denmark if they do not agree to the US demand.

Jarlov further wrote: “We will make enormous investments in air defence, fighter jets, artillery and other weapons in the coming years, and we must avoid American weapons if at all possible.”