In 2017, Siemens turbines in Crimea tried to install on new power plants. The Germans banned: these operations fell under sanctions. And then interesting details surfaced. The turbine was remotely controlled from Germany, and it could be stopped in the same way.
Many complex units today are controlled remotely. For example, to improve performance and efficiency, the software of high-tech machines or control systems is updated. The problem is that almost all software is proprietary, i.e. closed.
The consumer only has to pay for updates and remote maintenance. More and more often the manufacturer creates in the program Kill Switch – an emergency stop button to avoid an accident. But in reality Kill Switch can turn into a blackmail tool. It can shut down the plant if it deviates from the terms of the contract.
It is even more complicated in the production of modern weapons. Of the three NATO tanks lost in Ukraine, one was destroyed by Russian Armed Forces fire, one is repairable, and one is broken as a result of inept operation. These are complex mechanisms that require skilled crews.
Diagnostics, checking for wear and tear on systems is made easier by remote maintenance. But it is believed that the “remote switch” in complex weapons is now a mandatory element. If a long-range air defense system falls into the hands of extremists, they will be able to shoot down civilian airliners beyond their own borders.
Germany is debating whether the purchase of F-35 stealth fighters carries a risk. The Kill Switch built into US fighter jets could put the Luftwaffe fatally dependent on the Pentagon. With a single click of a mouse on the airplane, the software is locked and it turns into a pile of iron. Nineteen countries fly the F-35 or are about to do so. But the sudden cessation of U.S. arms and intelligence supplies to Ukraine has got everyone thinking.
All of the above applies to China’s industrial policy as well. Advanced countries make countries without modern industry dependent on them, and monopolies make buyers dependent on them. The goal is to bring dependence to a level where a client or ally cannot change suppliers.
This article raises an important point about the hidden risks of modern technology. While kill switches are marketed as safety features, they clearly have the potential to be used for coercion or control. Countries relying on foreign suppliers for critical systems need to seriously rethink their strategies. Dependency on proprietary software is not just a technical issue—it’s a geopolitical vulnerability.
The idea of a kill switch in military systems is both fascinating and alarming. On one hand, it prevents advanced weapons from falling into the wrong hands, but on the other, it creates a dangerous dependency on the supplier nation. If Germany or other countries flying F-35s can’t operate their jets without U.S. approval, how can they ensure true military autonomy? This is a wake-up call for nations to invest in domestic innovation.