Elon Musk Criticizes Manned Fighter Jets, Advocates for Drones in Air Combat
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has made headlines again, this time voicing his opinion against traditional fighter jets while endorsing the future of drone technology in military aviation. In a post on his social media platform, the CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, commented on the obsolescence of piloted aircraft in contemporary air warfare, indicating that such machines pose unnecessary risks to pilots.
“Manned fighter jets are outdated in the era of drones,” Musk declared, adding, “They will just get pilots killed.” He specifically targeted the F-35, a state-of-the-art fighter jet developed by Lockheed Martin that first entered service in 2015, calling it out for its shortcomings. To highlight his point, Musk shared a video showcasing hundreds of drones flying in formation.
The F-35, known as the most advanced fighter jet globally, boasts stealth capabilities and is also designed for intelligence gathering. Recently, several countries, including Germany, Poland, Finland, and Romania, have secured contracts for the aircraft. However, the F-35 has faced criticism for a number of issues, particularly related to its complex software systems and exorbitant operational costs.
Musk described the F-35’s design flaws, stating, “The requirements imposed on it intended for it to serve too many roles for too many stakeholders.” He referred to the aircraft as “an expensive and intricate jack of all trades, master of none.”
Mauro Gilli, a researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, offered insights on the F-35’s expenses, arguing that it is the software and electronic components—not the necessity for a pilot—that contributes significantly to the costs. “A reusable drone would still need to incorporate the advanced electronics typical of an F-35,” Gilli explained in a post on X.
Gilli further pointed out that the presence of the F-35 has compelled US adversaries to develop their own military aircraft and advanced radar systems to counter its technological edge. “By simply being in existence, the F-35 and the B-1 bomber compel Russia and China to make strategic decisions regarding their budgets that they wouldn’t otherwise have to consider,” he stated, referencing the B-1 heavy bomber.
He concluded that even if Musk’s assessment were accurate, eliminating these programs would ease the strategic pressures on US competitors.
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