Elon Musk has issued a stark warning about the US military’s readiness for future conflicts, asserting that critical reforms to outdated weapons systems are urgently needed to avoid a devastating defeat.
In a strong critique of US defense capabilities, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, and appointed “special government employee” leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump, has warned of an impending military defeat if the nation’s outdated weapons programs remain unreformed.
Musk, in a post on X, stated that a complete overhaul of American weapons programs is necessary, criticizing the current strategy of producing small numbers of expensive weapons designed for past conflicts. He emphasized that without significant and immediate changes, the US is destined for a crushing defeat in its next war.
Musk, a long-standing critic of inefficiencies within the US defense sector, believes excessive bureaucracy and outdated strategies weaken national security. His DOGE department is actively streamlining federal operations, including defense-related ones. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, manufacturer of the Predator drone, has urged DOGE to reform the Pentagon’s contracting system, deeming it too slow and bureaucratic for countering threats from China and Iran.
L3Harris Technologies, a major defense contractor, has submitted recommendations to DOGE for improving the defense acquisition system. These include eliminating redundant Cost Accounting Standard requirements and establishing a centralized contracting arm within the Office of the Secretary of Defense to oversee joint procurement programs.
DOGE has already canceled approximately $420 million in government contracts within its first 80 hours, representing initial progress towards its ambitious goal of reducing federal spending by $2 trillion.
Musk’s criticism extended to specific programs, notably the F-35 fighter jet, which he called a “sh*t design,” advocating instead for a shift towards more efficient and cost-effective unmanned systems for modern warfare.
Speaking at West Point in February, Musk highlighted the transformative impact of drones and AI on warfare, using the Ukraine conflict as a primary example. He noted that the Ukraine conflict is largely a drone war, and predicted that future major power conflicts will similarly be heavily reliant on drones. He urged increased investment and accelerated production of drones, cautioning against the tendency of nations to prepare for past conflicts rather than future ones. He warned that countries are generally prepared to fight the last war, not the next.