Elon Musk, who’s on the brink of co-head the brand new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Indian-American biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, launched a tirade towards Pentagon’s trendy fighter jets, F-35, saying that drones had been the way forward for air fight.
Using a trash can emoji, Musk in a submit on X slammed the “idiots” who nonetheless manufacture manned fight jets just like the F-35.
“Meanwhile, some idiots are nonetheless constructing manned fighter jets just like the F-35,” the billionaire tweeted, whereas sharing a video of synchronized Chinese drones in operation.
Musk’s criticism helps the broad federal funds reforms that he and DOGE co-leader Ramaswamy are advocating. The Pentagon has been dealing with particular scrutiny as a result of its bold plan to cut back the federal funds by a minimum of $2 trillion.
The costliest and complicated weapons program within the Department of Defense is the Lockheed Martin-producedF-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
Elon Musk says F-35 ‘will simply get pilots killed’
The SpaceX CEO intensified his criticism on Monday, claiming that the jet’s design was primarily defective from the beginning because it was an effort to fulfill a number of contradictory standards.
“The F-35 design was damaged on the necessities stage as a result of it was required to be too many issues to too many individuals. This made it an costly & complicated jack of all trades, grasp of none. Success was by no means within the set of attainable outcomes,” Musk said.
“Manned fighter jets are out of date within the age of drones anyway. Will simply get pilots killed,” stated the top of X, in one other submit, drawing help from President-elect Donald Trump ally Matt Gaetz, who responded, saying. “The F-35 is a failed platform. It’s time to shift fully to drones.”
Musk used the “100” emoji to answer to a consumer’s tweet insisting, “Drone superiority is the brand new air superiority.”
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How Musk’s remarks may trigger a rift with Trump?
The remarks may trigger a rift between Musk and Trump, who hailed his position in reducing the costs of the Lockheed Martin program after which applauded the fifth-generation stealth plane, claiming at rallies that it’s “invisible.”
According to Musk, UAVs, whether or not autonomous or remotely piloted, present extra accuracy and take away the hazards related to human pilots.
UAVs have been important in up to date battles, particularly in Ukraine, the place they’ve been enjoying a key position in countering Russian forces.
Despite Musk’s claims, Pentagon consultant for the F-35 joint program workplace backed the jet’s worth.
“We have combat-capable plane in operation at present, they usually carry out exceptionally effectively towards the threats for which they had been designed. Pilots frequently emphasize that that is the fighter they wish to take to struggle if referred to as upon,” the Pentagon stated.