Additional Coverage:
- Elon Musk said the F-35’s makers are ‘idiots’ for still building manned jets as drone tech rises (newsbreak.com)
Elon Musk, who will advise President-elect Trump on efficiency, criticized the Pentagon’s F-35 fighter jet program.
Musk called the F-35 a “shit design” and suggested that drone swarms are a better alternative.
The F-35 program has faced cost overruns and delays, but experts argue that these issues are not primarily due to its crewed nature.
Musk’s suggestion of a reusable drone would require advanced electronics and software, which could increase costs.
Experts also question the effectiveness of relying on stealth capabilities, as Musk suggested.
Musk’s criticism comes as he and Vivek Ramaswamy are set to lead Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency.
The F-35 program is estimated to cost over $2 trillion over its lifetime, with around 1,000 planes delivered so far.
Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, defends its aircraft as the most advanced fighter jet in the world.
The Pentagon maintains that the F-35 is combat-capable and preferred by pilots.