In the wake of Elon Musk‘s recent comments advocating for drone warfare over traditional manned aircraft, experts are now deliberating the practicality of such a transition. The conversation has sparked widespread discussion about the potential operational and industrial consequences of replacing manned fighter jets with drones.
What Happened: Experts are questioning the viability of drones fully replacing manned aircraft, following comments by Musk. The discussion centers around the operational and industrial implications of such a shift, The Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, the complete phasing out of piloted fighters is considered improbable by many experts due to significant operational and industrial impacts. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, emphasized that fighter jets perform numerous tasks that current unmanned systems struggle to replicate.
Bronk noted that the presence of a pilot is crucial for making judgments and providing reassurance, tasks that drones cannot yet handle effectively. Additionally, drones face challenges such as limited range and vulnerability to electronic warfare, making them less viable as sole replacements for manned aircraft.
Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners highlighted that if drones were the ultimate solution, countries like Ukraine and China would not be investing in manned combat aircraft.
Mark Gunzinger from the Mitchell Institute argued that future military capabilities would rely on a combination of both crewed and uncrewed systems and that AI will "not replace what humans bring to the fight.”
Why It Matters: The debate was ignited by Musk’s criticism of the Lockheed Martin LMT -made F-35 stealth fighter program, where he advocated for drone warfare. Musk, recently appointed by Donald Trump to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), shared a video of drone swarms, questioning the continued investment in manned jets like the F-35.
Previously, in June, Musk had expressed his belief that drones are the future of warfare, suggesting that human pilots slow down aircraft. His comments underscore a significant shift in military aviation, highlighting the potential advantages of drones in terms of speed and safety.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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