As software gets integrated into everything, the phenomenon of vendor lock-in and the resulting loss of agency and sovereignty pops up in some unexpected places, like the defense industry.
Already in the 1980s some visionaries and crackpots saw that software had the potential to be as much a tool for subjugation, suppression and control as it had the promise to liberate and empower.
The vendor lock-in from Microsoft Windows was legendary and to this day they dominate desktop software, despite completely free and open source alternatives being available since the mid 90s.
John Deere made headlines a few years back due to their tractors no longer being repairable by 3rd parties.
Now software based vendor lock-in has come to defense systems and nation states are learning that they're wholly dependent on the manufacturers and their host nation (e.g. the USA).
The F-35 jet is a prime example. Its software is controlled by Lockheed Martin and the US government. Buyers can’t access or alter the source code, and must rely on the manufacturer for updates or repairs.
For allied states, this means operational independence is limited. Even if jets can technically fly without upgrades, strategic autonomy depends on ongoing access to software, patches, and maintenance handled by teams from the supplier’s country.
Software control in arms can translate into political leverage: suppliers can threaten to cut support over diplomatic disputes.
The result is a reduction in nation state sovereignty and an increased dependence on a foreign power.As software gets integrated into everything, the phenomenon of vendor lock-in and the resulting loss of agency and sovereignty pops up in some unexpected places, like the defense industry.
Already in the 1980s some visionaries and crackpots saw that software had the potential to be as much a tool for subjugation, suppression and control as it had the promise to liberate and empower.
The vendor lock-in from Microsoft Windows was legendary and to this day they dominate desktop software, despite completely free and open source alternatives being available since the mid 90s.
John Deere made headlines a few years back due to their tractors no longer being repairable by 3rd parties.
Now software based vendor lock-in has come to defense systems and nation states are learning that they're wholly dependent on the manufacturers and their host nation (e.g. the USA).
The F-35 jet is a prime example. Its software is controlled by Lockheed Martin and the US government. Buyers can’t access or alter the source code, and must rely on the manufacturer for updates or repairs.
For allied states, this means operational independence is limited. Even if jets can technically fly without upgrades, strategic autonomy depends on ongoing access to software, patches, and maintenance handled by teams from the supplier’s country.
Software control in arms can translate into political leverage: suppliers can threaten to cut support over diplomatic disputes.
The result is a reduction in nation state sovereignty and an increased dependence on a foreign power.
