Billionaire Musk, Trump Adviser, Criticizes F-35 as a “Flawed Design” and Mocks “Fools” Still Building Manned Fighters

On November 24, Elon Musk shared a video showcasing a swarm of coordinated drones, commenting: “Meanwhile, some fools are still making manned jets like the F-35,” adding a trash can emoji.

In response, social media users argued that the F-35 outperforms drones in altitude, range, speed, and advanced weapon capabilities.

Musk criticized the F-35’s design, stating it was flawed from inception due to the need to fulfill too many roles across different branches of the military. “This made it expensive, complex, and mediocre at everything, excelling at nothing. Manned fighters are becoming obsolete in the drone era, risking pilots’ lives unnecessarily,” he added.

Musk also noted that armed drones could carry out bombing and missile missions without endangering pilots.

A spokesperson from Lockheed Martin, the F-35’s manufacturer, defended the jet as “the world’s most advanced, survivable, and connected fighter,” emphasizing its importance in multi-domain operations. The Pentagon affirmed that the F-35 performs exceptionally well against its intended threats, with pilots consistently expressing confidence in the jet for combat missions.

Mauro Gilli, a military technology expert at ETH Zurich, acknowledged Musk’s valid criticisms of the F-35 program. However, he attributed cost overruns and delays to complex electronics and software, not its manned design. Gilli added that UAVs with F-35-level capabilities would likely be even more expensive.

President-elect Donald Trump recently appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the Government Efficiency Board, tasked with cutting unnecessary regulations and reducing federal waste. It remains unclear if Musk intends to influence F-35 funding.

The F-35 program, the Pentagon’s most expensive, has a total projected cost of $485 billion, with estimates rising due to engine cooling improvements. The aircraft’s advanced sensors, secure communications, and stealth capabilities enable deep penetration into enemy airspace, relaying critical data to rear units for long-range strikes.

Unlike the F-22, the F-35 features helmet-mounted displays and an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) for radar-independent precision targeting.

With around 3,000 F-35s planned, over 1,000 have already been delivered to the U.S. and allies. The aircraft is expected to remain in service until 2088, with total program costs exceeding $2 trillion for production and maintenance.

Musk has repeatedly urged U.S. officials to consider converting manned fighters into UAVs to stay competitive and enhance procurement flexibility for the Air Force.