Tamir Morag breaks down the major misconception: the F-35 isn’t just a fighter jet — it’s a flying supercomputer, and the US can limit or disable nearly any function before exporting it.
Morag, a journalist from Channel 14 TV explains that no country receives the same F-35 the US flies. Even Israel — which gets the closest version — still receives jets with certain American systems restricted. Software commands can block weapons releases, dial down radar power, reduce stealth, disable sensors in specific regions, and more. Any attempt by foreign buyers to plug in their own systems triggers automatic “checks” with the US.
This means that selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia or Turkey doesn’t automatically grant them full power. Washington can calibrate the aircraft’s abilities with extraordinary precision, shaping everything from operational zones to weapons compatibility.
Morag stresses that experts themselves are divided on whether these sales are wise — but the debate should recognize that the issue is highly technical, not black-and-white.