Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has sparked debate over the future of air combat, calling for the United States to replace manned fighter jets with drones. Musk, who has been tasked by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to cut federal spending, criticized modern fighter jets as outdated and risky for pilots.
“Manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed,” Musk posted on his social media platform on Monday.
Musk Targets the F-35
Musk singled out the F-35, a next-generation stealth fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin, as an example of flawed military investment. “Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35,” he said, accompanying the comment with a video of drones flying in formation.
The F-35, known for its advanced stealth and intelligence-gathering capabilities, is currently in service with several U.S. allies, including Germany, Poland, Finland, and Romania. However, it has faced criticism for its high costs and software challenges. Musk argued that the jet’s design was fundamentally flawed.
“The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people,” he stated, calling it “an expensive, complex jack of all trades, master of none.”
Expert Reactions
Defense analysts have pushed back against Musk’s remarks. Mauro Gilli, a researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, noted that the F-35’s high costs stem from its sophisticated electronics and software, which would still be necessary for advanced military drones.
“What makes the F-35 expensive is the software and the electronics, not the pilot per se. A reusable drone would need all that flashy electronics of an F-35,” Gilli commented on social media.
Gilli also highlighted the strategic importance of the F-35 in forcing U.S. rivals like Russia and China to invest heavily in countermeasures. “By simply existing, the F-35 and the B-1 force Russia and China into strategic choices they would not have to make otherwise,” he said.
A New Era of Air Combat?
Musk’s comments come as the U.S. military increasingly explores drone technology for warfare. While drones offer significant advantages in cost and reduced risk to human life, critics argue that eliminating manned aircraft could leave gaps in operational capabilities and strategic deterrence.
