Musk SLAMS New U.S. Fighter as DISASTER!

Elon Musk declared the Pentagon’s next-generation F-47 fighter jet a “national security mistake,” warning it diverts critical resources from autonomous combat systems.

At a Glance

• Elon Musk criticized the F-47 program for prioritizing manned jets over drone warfare capabilities.
• The F-47 was selected in March 2025 as the lead platform in the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance initiative.
• Musk argued that over $1 trillion spent on the jet undermines drone innovation and readiness.
• Drone platforms like Anduril’s Fury and GA-ASI’s Gambit are being developed under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
• Lawmakers and defense officials are divided on the long-term value of crewed jets.

Drone vs. Fighter: The Strategic Divide

On July 9, Elon Musk took to X to denounce the Pentagon’s F-47 fighter initiative, calling it “a useless new crewed fighter plane” and alleging it “severely undermines our national security.” The post, covered in detail by the National Interest, immediately ignited debate among military analysts, who have watched as manned aircraft continue to dominate procurement despite advances in autonomous technologies.

The F-47, built by Boeing, is the centerpiece of the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) strategy, which aims to replace the F-22 and operate alongside a new fleet of AI-driven drones. Critics like Musk argue the program’s focus on piloted aircraft neglects faster and cheaper drone options already prototyped under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative.

Watch a report: Musk blasts Trump’s F-47 fighter jet program.

Budget Battles and Defense Pushback

Musk’s comments spotlight growing tension over the military’s tech priorities. Industry leaders maintain that the F-47 offers crucial capabilities in contested airspace, including survivability and adaptive threat response. But analysts have pointed out that peer competitors, especially in the Indo-Pacific, are investing heavily in drone swarms and hypersonic weapons—areas where the U.S. lags behind.

The Department of Defense has poured billions into early-stage drone platforms such as Anduril’s Fury and General Atomics’ Gambit, yet those programs remain in testing. The F-47, by contrast, is already projected to consume over $1 trillion in development and lifecycle costs. Musk contends that figure could instead fund thousands of autonomous systems with faster deployment timelines and lower risk to human operators. Defence Blog highlighted Musk’s claim that America is “delaying the inevitable by clinging to outdated air combat doctrine.”

The Future of Air Dominance

At the heart of the debate is whether air superiority in the 21st century will be led by pilots or algorithms. Proponents of the F-47 assert that it ensures dominance in high-risk environments, while drone advocates warn that manned jets are too slow, expensive, and vulnerable against modern missile networks.

As Congress prepares to review upcoming defense appropriations, Musk’s statements may fuel calls to reassess priorities—potentially reallocating resources toward unmanned aerial systems. With the F-47’s first production milestone set for early 2026, its fate may rest as much in political hands as in military doctrine. The Pentagon now faces a critical test: double down on legacy airframes or pivot decisively toward the drone-driven future Musk insists is already here.