Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is also the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency advising President-elect Donald Trump, called out the F-35 stealth fighter on Sunday while endorsing drones over manned aircraft.
On top of him X social networking platformhe reposted a video of synchronized drones flying in elaborate formations and added: “Meanwhile some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35.”
Under a comment from a user who said “Drones are the new level of warfare,” Musk responded with a “100” emoji indicating massive support.
Meanwhile some idiots are building manned fighter jets like the F-35 🗑️ 🫠
pic.twitter.com/4JX27qcxz1— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2024
“We have combat-capable aircraft in operation today and they perform very well against the threat they were designed for. Pilots consistently emphasize that this is the fighter they want to take to war if called upon,” said a spokesman for the Pentagon’s joint program office. increases, and is the aircraft of choice for partners and allies The program includes 12 US Services, International Partners and Foreign Military Sales customers, and the FMS platform interest continues to grow. In the next 10 years, there will be 700 F-35s in Europe and only 60 of them will be from the US.”
Lockheed Martinwhich is the prime contractor, said the company will work with the new administration and that it supports the F-35’s capabilities.
“As we did during his first term, we look forward to a strong working relationship with President Trump, his team and the new Congress to strengthen our national defense,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “The F-35 is the world’s most advanced, survivable and connected fighter jet, an essential deterrent and the foundation of joint operations across all domains.”
To be sure, the Pentagon has been flying a range of drones for decades, including for surveillance missions and airstrikes. And the concept of a future-generation air superiority program includes a mix of manned and unmanned fighters.
But Silicon Valley Defense startups like Anduril drones are also being developed as the Pentagon develops and buys weapons. In fact, the executive president of Andurile has announced He consulted with Trump and his team about military renewal.
Meanwhile, hundreds of F-35s are already in service with the US military and key allies around the world. During its production cycle, the Pentagon plans to buy about 2,400 F-35s for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps to replace aging, stealthy fighters.
The Pentagon first awarded the contract to Lockheed in 2001, but the program has been a perennial punching bag for cost overruns, delays and its exorbitant price tag.
After factoring in the costs of developing, manufacturing, operating and maintaining the F-35 fleet over the lifetime of the fighter, which can be extended until 2088The Defense Department estimates the F-35 will cost $1.8 trillion, making it the Pentagon’s most expensive weapons program.
A recently declassified report by the Defense Department’s chief of weapons testing states that the F-35’s reliability, maintainability and availability are “below service expectations.In response to that report, Lockheed said the F-35 “consistently meets or exceeds the reliability performance requirements we have contracted for.”
in one The Wall Street Journal opinion ed Outlining DOGE’s agenda on Wednesday, Musk and co-chairman Vivek Ramaswamy did not single out the weapons program, but noted that the Pentagon recently failed its seventh consecutive audit, “suggesting how the agency’s management has an annual budget of more than $800 million.” they are spent.”
Changes to the defense budget and weapons procurement ultimately have to pass through Congress, and production of the F-35 is spread across multiple districts and subcontractors.
