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A top US military official has criticized Elon Musk’s claims that manned fighter jets are obsolete.
Some shit you should know before you read: Roughly one month ago, Elon Musk criticized the F-35 program, describing it as an outdated investment in an era dominated by drone technology. He labeled those continuing to build the aircraft as “idiots” in a series of posts on his social media platform X, arguing that resources should instead be directed toward developing advanced unmanned systems. Musk has consistently maintained that manned fighter jets like the F-35 are obsolete, first voicing such opinions in 2020 at an Air Force Association conference, where he declared, “The fighter jet era has passed.”
What’s going on now: While speaking during a virtual summit at the Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall addressed Elon Musk’s criticism of the F-35 program and manned fighter jets, arguing that Musk lacks an understanding of military realities. He said, “I have a lot of respect for Elon Musk as an engineer, but he’s not a warfighter, and he needs to learn a little bit more about the business, I think, before he makes such grand announcements as he did.” He acknowledged Musk’s vision of drone-dominated warfare as “provocative” and “interesting” but stressed that it remains decades away, stating, “I can imagine at some point — I don’t think it’s centuries, by the way, I think it’s more like decades — when something like he imagines can occur. But we’re not there, and it’s going to be a little while before we get there.”
Kendall also defended the continued investment in the F-35, calling it a “state-of-the-art system” essential to current and future operations.
Digging Deeper: The F-35 program is projected to cost the US government over $1.7 trillion across its lifetime, making it one of the most expensive military projects in history. This figure includes $412 billion for procurement and development, with the remainder allocated for operations, maintenance, and upgrades over the coming decades.
Despite a cost-per-aircraft ranging from $80 million to $90 million, depending on the variant, the program has faced sustained criticism for its ballooning expenses, technical flaws, and delays. Issues such as software bugs, engine malfunctions, and maintenance challenges have hindered its combat readiness. At the same time, its maintenance-heavy design and complex supply chain have raised concerns about long-term sustainability. While proponents argue that the F-35’s advanced capabilities justify the investment, critics continue to call for stricter oversight and potential program revisions.
