The US could stop NATO jets from flying

美国可令北约战机停飞

World in 10

新闻

2025-03-28

10 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

A previously classified contract, which allows the US to essentially ground F35 fighter jets operated by Germany's air force has been uncovered by German media. It has added to Europe's fears that its hostile relationship with Donald Trump might be leaving it vulnerable as it attempts to rearm and stand up to Russia. The Times’ Berlin correspondent Oliver Moody explains why the US still has such control over the jets and whether Europe has alternatives to the F35. The World in 10 is the Times' daily podcast dedicated to global security. Expert analysis of war, diplomatic relations and cyber security from The Times' foreign correspondents and military specialists.  Watch more: www.youtube.com/@ListenToTimesRadio  Read more: www.thetimes.com  Photo: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • Welcome to the world in 10 in an increasingly uncertain world.

  • This is the Times daily podcast dedicated to global security today with me,

  • Tom Noonan and Alex Dibble.

  • Europe's long been reliant on the US for its defence in terms of troop numbers,

  • intelligence and hardware.

  • But as NATO allies try to rearm in response to Donald Trump's threats,

  • German media's discovered Germany's advanced F35 jets could be grounded against its will,

  • not by its enemies, but by the United States.

  • Given a number of America's allies have bought the jets,

  • how seriously could this hamstring Europe's attempts to defend itself against Russia or any other enemy in future

  • if the relationship with the US doesn't improve?

  • And is there anything Europe can do about it?

  • Our guest today is the Times Berlin correspondent Oliver Moody.

  • Oliver, just talk us through how the US would stop F35s flying,

  • because it's not as though there's a kill switch, is there?

  • And planes are just going to drop out of the sky suddenly.

  • What we are talking about here is two slightly different things,

  • the first of which is this deep suspicion among many of the European allies that have bought the F35 or ordered it,

  • that the US doesn't need a kill switch,

  • that it can simply cut off the spare parts and the software updates to the F35s,