Elon Musk Criticizes F-35 Fighter Jet, Calls It Unsafe for Pilots
Islamabad:Elon Musk, co-chair of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, has once again criticized the F-35 stealth fighter jet, claiming that its design flaws make it fundamentally unsafe for pilots. In a post on his social media platform, X.com, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla argued that the F-35 was over-engineered in an attempt to make it versatile for a wide range of needs, compromising its core functionality and safety.
Musk stated, “The F-35’s design was broken down to meet the needs of too many different people, leading to an overcomplicated, jack-of-all-trades aircraft, but master of none. Success was never going to come from this patchwork design. Fighter jets, especially manned ones, are obsolete in the age of drones – pilots are just going to be killed.”
This comment follows Musk’s earlier statements questioning the relevance of manned fighter jets in modern warfare. Just last Sunday, he shared a video of drone swarms flying in formation, remarking, “Some fools are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35.”
Musk’s blunt remarks underline his belief that drone technology represents the future of aerial combat, rendering traditional manned fighters like the F-35 obsolete. His criticism comes at a time when the debate about the future of aerial warfare is intensifying. The F-35, developed by Lockheed Martin, has faced several challenges, including development delays, cost overruns, and questions about its combat performance. Despite these issues, the fifth-generation multirole fighter remains a crucial component of air forces in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and several allied nations.
While Musk has consistently advocated for the use of unmanned systems in military applications, his comments highlight ongoing concerns regarding the evolving role of human pilots in modern warfare. With drone technology advancing rapidly, the question of whether fighter jets like the F-35 have a place in future combat is becoming increasingly debated.
