Will Elon Musk 'Shoot Down' the F-35 Lightning II?
Musk will have to explain to lawmakers—who have powerful lobbyists pushing their agendas. And that is where the billionaire may have met his match.
Last month, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk—who was named to co-head the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—infamously took a shot at the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. In a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Musk suggested only “idiots are still building manned fighters like the F-35” while seemingly calling for the development of drones.
As previously reported, Musk has the ear of President-elect Donald Trump, and there have been concerns that Musk’s criticism may be enough to see the aircraft grounded.
Lockheed Martin Responds
Speaking at the UBS Global Industrials & Transportation Conference on Tuesday, Lockheed Martin Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave made clear that the company expects some turbulence ahead with the incoming administration.
“I would expect, over time, that there will be different priorities in this administration,” Malave said, according to a report from Defense One. “It typically happens, [that] the administration prioritizes things that maybe the prior one didn’t. I think the good thing about Lockheed Martin is that we’re accustomed to that. We know how to operate in that environment and how to adjust quickly.”
The aerospace and defense giant has already reached a “handshake deal” for two more lots of the F-35, although the deal won’t likely be closed until Trump takes office next month.
“With government efficiency, you could see elements of addition by subtraction, so ultimately, you could see a higher budget a request than what we’ve seen from the prior administration, but it could be as a result of some things either being curtailed or canceled, and other things being prioritized,” Malave added. “Until we get that visibility, it’s really hard to speculate on what we’ll see.”
Trump Could Support Drones
Beyond Musk’s support for drones—not to mention that of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who suggested the M1 Abrams main battle tank (MBT) should be replaced by drones—Donald Trump Jr. is already embracing the technology.
The president-elect’s son became an adviser to drone maker Unusual Machines.
“The need for drones is obvious,” Trump Jr. said in a statement. “It is also obvious that we must stop buying Chinese drones and Chinese drone parts.”
The Wrong Approach, Say Experts
There is no denying that drones may be the future, but experts have suggested the the United States needs a hybrid approach of manned and unmanned aircraft (and other platforms). It would be impossible to just replace our manned systems with unmanned systems.
“Fighting technology is evolving toward more sophisticated aircraft, including drones,” William C. Banks, professor of Law and Public Administration at Syracuse University, told Inews.
“Different aircraft, including fighter jets, will continue to be appropriate for use in different combat environments,” Betts added. “The modern military needs both traditional aircraft and better drones, but the question is exactly in what proportions, depending on technical and budgetary developments—both of which are uncertain at this point.”
Calls for More Manned Fighters
The calls from Musk, Schmidt, and Trump Jr. are in contrast to those from “Project 2025”—the controversial political initiative first published in April 2022 by the American conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation.
Christopher Miller, who served as the acting defense secretary during Trump’s first term, authored the defense section of the initiative and he called for a 5 percent increase in defense spending. He also suggested that the Pentagon should purchase sixty to eighty of the fifth-generation stealth fighters annually. Miller also called for an increase in the number of Northrop Grumman B-21 Raiders that the U.S. Air Force could receive.
While Miller has no formal place in the new Trump administration, his views are still at direct odds with those of Musk—but as Inews also added, it is the lawmakers on Capitol Hill who have the final say on how many aircraft the Department of Defense can afford. In fact, Congress can direct it to buy/retain more even if the services seek to go in another direction.
Musk will have to explain to lawmakers—who have powerful lobbyists pushing their agendas. And that is where the billionaire may have met his match.
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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