Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, criticized manned fighter jets as outdated in the drone era, arguing they only risk the lives of pilots. In a post on his social media platform, Musk specifically targeted the F-35, calling it a costly and inefficient design.
He described the F-35, a cutting-edge fighter jet developed by Lockheed Martin, as “an expensive and complex jack of all trades, master of none,” citing its high operational costs and software issues. The F-35, known for its stealth capabilities and intelligence-gathering features, is used by several countries, including Germany, Poland, Finland, and Romania.
Musk’s criticism of the F-35 also extended to its design, which he claims tries to do too much for too many needs. He shared a video of drones flying in formation to emphasize his point that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are the future of military aviation.
Mauro Gilli, a researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, agreed that the F-35’s high cost is largely due to its software and electronics rather than the pilot. He suggested that a reusable drone could incorporate similar technology without the need for a pilot.
Gilli also noted that the F-35 has forced U.S. rivals like Russia and China to invest in comparable aircraft and radar systems, meaning the jet’s existence has strategic implications beyond just its use in combat. He argued that eliminating programs like the F-35 would ease these budgetary pressures for adversaries.
