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Tesla and SpaceX business leader Elon Musk has taken aim at the US’ F-35 fighter jet fleet, describing manned aircraft as “obsolete” in the age of drones.
Musk, who was recently announced as co-head of the new Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, made the comments against the F-35 programme on social media platform, X (Twitter).
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“The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people,” Musk wrote.
“This made it an expensive and complex jack of all trades, master of none. Success was never in the set of possible outcomes.
“And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed.”
Musk has previously taken aim at the effectiveness of F-35 aircraft on social media platform X.
“Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35,” he said about a video featuring Chinese drones using formation tactics.
The Australian Defence Force already fields three squadrons of F-35A Lightning II multi-role stealth fighters from RAAF Base Williamtown, RAAF Base Tindal and a training squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, speaking at the recent Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting with officials from Japan and Australia on 17 November, recommitted to F-35 usage between the three countries.
“This is the fourth time that I participated in this bilateral format as Secretary of Defense and over the past four years, our three democracies have accomplished a lot together,” he said.
“We’ve announced a bilateral cooperation on F-35s we’re working to integrate Japan into the US-Australia force posture cooperation in Australia, and Japan and Australia have exercised their reciprocal access agreement through deployments to each other’s countries.
“Darwin is a focal point for our expanding trilateral relationship and our bond is delivering real security, deterrence and interoperability.
“We discuss the next steps to expand our exercises and training, and Japan’s commitment to annual trilateral amphibious training in the Indo Pacific demonstrates our momentum, including with the Marine Rotational Force Darwin here in Northern Australia.
“We’re also elevating key bilateral exercises into trilateral exercises, Australia will now participate in ground force exercises Yama Sakura and Orient Shield along with joint exercises such as Keen Edge and Keen Sword.
“And starting in 2025 we’ll increase the complexity of our trilateral exercises, including Southern Jackaroo and Talisman Sabre.
“Looking further out Talisman Sabre 2027 will include an air and missile defense live fire event.
“Taken together this is major progress, and it will help ensure a more stable and prosperous region. Beyond these exercise milestones today we welcome Japan’s increased participation in US-Australia force posture activities.
“Through this work, we’re eager to deepen Japan’s cooperation with the Marine Rotational Force Darwin and we’ll continue to grow our trilateral intelligence sharing and to increase our surveillance and reconnaissance activities.”
