Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a key figure in the new Department of Government Efficiency advising President-elect Donald Trump, recently expressed some striking opinions about military aviation. In a social media post on Sunday, he criticized the F-35 stealth fighter and voiced his support for drones over manned jets.
On his platform, known as X, Musk shared a captivating video of drones flying in flawless formation, commenting, “Meanwhile, some are still building human-piloted fighter jets like the F-35.” He added emojis to underline his viewpoint, clearly questioning the continued investment in traditional fighter planes.
When one user remarked that drones represent the future of warfare, Musk responded enthusiastically, using the “100” emoji to convey strong agreement.
The Pentagon, however, stands firmly by the capabilities of the F-35, with a spokesman explaining, “Our combat aircraft are designed for today’s threats and perform excellently. Pilots continually trust this fighter in combat.” The spokesman emphasized the international deployment of the aircraft, noting it’s favored by many allies and that Europe’s fleet will grow significantly in the next decade.
Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the F-35, affirmed their support for the aircraft amidst the changing political landscape. “We’re ready to maintain a strong partnership with President Trump, his administration, and the new Congress,” a spokesperson stated, praising the F-35 as a critical component of national defense.
While drones have been integral to military strategies for years, blending manned and unmanned aircraft is part of future plans. Tech innovators like Anduril in Silicon Valley are pushing boundaries in drone technology, potentially leading to changes in military procurement under the new administration.
Despite the debate, the F-35 program continues robustly, with hundreds already serving the U.S. military and allies. The Pentagon’s substantial commitment includes plans to acquire around 2,400 units to eventually replace older aircraft.
The program, which started with a contract awarded to Lockheed in 2001, has faced criticism over costs and delays. With an estimated total lifecycle cost of $1.8 trillion, the F-35 is the Pentagon’s most expensive undertaking.
Critiques have been supported by a recent, declassified report highlighting reliability issues, although Lockheed insists the F-35 surpasses contractual reliability requirements.
In a Wall Street Journal piece outlining their objectives for the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy avoided direct reference to specific defense programs. Still, they noted the Pentagon’s financial management issues, losing track of its $800 billion budget for the seventh audit in a row.
Ultimately, any shifts in defense spending and procurement will need congressional approval, given the wide distribution of F-35 production across various locales and subcontractors.
