Appointed by Donald Trump to reduce federal spending, Elon Musk is already hitting hard even though he is not even officially in office yet. He considers piloted combat aircraft outdated, notably targeting Lockheed Martin's F-35, proposing drones as a solution.
The F-35, symbol of a criticized past?
Elon Musk will therefore head a federal savings commission in the new Administration of Donald Trump. A man of innovation with SpaceX and Tesla, Musk transposes his disruptive vision to defense. For him, drones embody the future of aerial conflicts. « Piloted fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones », he declares on his social network X (formerly Twitter).
Fifth generation aircraft, the F-35 represents a colossal investment for the United States. Its development suffered from its technical complexity, particularly in terms of its software. According to Musk, the F-35 is a “complex and expensive” machine that lacks effectiveness on the battlefield. Its detractors, including Musk, denounce its exorbitant operating costs. However, this military flagship remains a major strategic tool for Washington's allies such as Poland and Germany.
Drones, are Elon Musk's alternative really viable?
Musk is banking on an army of drones, which he imagines to be more efficient and less expensive. Videos of drones flying in formation reinforced his speech. However, some experts, such as Mauro Gilli, researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, put this vision into perspective. “ Drones require as many advanced electronics as the F-35 “, he explains. The idea that these devices reduce costs is therefore questionable.
For Mauro Gilli, the F-35 is forcing U.S. rivals, like China and Russia, to develop costly technologies in response. Eliminating these programs could provide a strategic advantage to these nations. If Musk goes wrong, the United States risks weakening its military position. Musk's futuristic vision is therefore divisive.
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