Additional Coverage:
- The Air Force Secretary said Elon Musk ‘needs to learn a little bit more about the business’ before deriding crewed fighter jets (newsbreak.com)
Air Force Secretary Slams Elon Musk’s Criticism of F-35
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has responded to Elon Musk’s criticism of the F-35 fighter jet, calling it “provocative” but unrealistic.
While acknowledging Musk’s engineering prowess, Kendall emphasized that Musk’s comments lack the perspective of a warfighter. He believes Musk overestimates the capabilities of drones and underestimates the effectiveness of crewed fighters.
Kendall dismissed Musk’s suggestion that crewed fighters are obsolete, stating that such a scenario is decades away. He stressed the dominance of the F-35 over older aircraft and its continued importance in the near future.
Despite acknowledging potential advancements in drone technology, Kendall maintained that the F-35 remains a crucial asset. The Air Force is pursuing a sixth-generation fighter program that combines crewed jets with drones, but its production is still years away.
Kendall’s comments come as Musk’s influence in Washington grows. The billionaire’s views on defense spending and the F-35 could potentially impact US military procurement decisions.