Another F-35 has crashed; will Musk propose budget reductions for the world’s costliest fighter program?

A fifth-generation fighter jet from the United States, the F-35, experienced a crash in Alaska on January 28th. The pilot successfully ejected and is safe, but the aircraft sustained extensive damage. This incident marks the third F-35 crash in the past year, coinciding with Elon Musk’s criticisms regarding the aircraft’s outdated and inefficient design.

Musk has labeled the F-35 program as the “worst military value for money in history,” advocating for a reallocation of funds towards drone technology. His opinions have garnered significant attention, particularly following his recent appointment to advise the US government on improving federal expenditure.

The crash took place on the runway at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. Staff Sgt. Kimberly Touchet, a spokesperson for Eielson, stated that the situation is still under investigation to verify all details.

During a subsequent press conference, Col. Paul Townsend, Commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, explained that the pilot was landing during a training exercise when the jet encountered an “inflight malfunction,” necessitating the ejection. He confirmed that the pilot was following standard procedures at the time of the incident.

The event occurred around 12:49 pm, resulting in considerable damage to the aircraft. A statement from the USAF indicated, “The pilot is safe and has been transported to Bassett Army Hospital for further evaluation.”

A video capturing the aircraft’s crash depicts the F-35 spinning and descending vertically toward the ground. The pilot, who had already ejected, is seen parachuting down while observing his aircraft plummet just meters away. Upon impact with the ground, the plane erupted in flames.

In 2016, Eielson was chosen to accommodate 54 F-35s, leading to an expansion project exceeding 500 million dollars to support the aircraft. The F-35 boasts the ability to fly for over 12 hours, enabling it to reach nearly any location in the Northern Hemisphere within a single mission.

Since the F-35’s introduction nearly two decades ago, there have been 31 recorded crashes. In May 2024, an F-35 crashed in New Mexico following a refueling stop, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot.

In September 2023, a Marine Corps F-35 crashed in South Carolina after the pilot ejected. Remarkably, the aircraft continued to fly autonomously for approximately 11 minutes post-ejection, thanks to its advanced flight-control systems.

The Marine Corps investigation concluded that pilot error was a contributing factor to the crash, but noted that an “electrical event” led to multiple system failures, affecting both radios, the transponder, the tactical air navigation system, and the instrument landing system. The investigation revealed that the helmet-mounted display, which serves as the pilot’s primary interface, and the panoramic cockpit display were non-functional at least three times, resulting in the pilot becoming disoriented during a heavy rainstorm.

Due to the aircraft’s stealth technology, it was located 30 hours after the incident.

F-35 – The Costliest Defense Initiative in the United States

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, created by Lockheed Martin, stands as the most costly and ambitious defense project undertaken by the Department of Defense. While it is lauded for its importance to national security, the program has faced ongoing scrutiny due to its soaring costs and persistent delays. It is recognized as the most expensive military project in history, with the US Government Accountability Office projecting that its total lifetime expenses will surpass US$2 trillion.

In 2024, a declassified report from the Pentagon highlighted several shortcomings of the program. It stated, “The overall reliability, maintainability, and availability of the US fleet remains below service expectations.” In response, Lockheed Martin asserted that the F-35 “consistently meets or exceeds the reliability performance requirements we are contracted to deliver,” noting that “almost 90% of F-35 components are performing better than required.”

The Pentagon’s findings indicated that the F-35 “takes at least twice as long to repair as required” when compared to its official standards, largely due to the “poor failure rate of critical parts, which significantly contributed to low mission availability.” Furthermore, it was noted that “critical failures are relatively evenly spread out among many different components.”

Information regarding the F-35’s resilience against cyber-attacks on its 24 most sensitive systems was redacted. However, an unredacted section stated, “The knowledge of actual aircraft vulnerability is limited.” The report urged the program office to deliver a jet “that allows for full, end-to-end testing in a representative cyber threat environment.”

In potential future conflict scenarios, the aircraft is anticipated to engage with China’s 5th-generation fighter jets. However, the report noted that “only one trial involved a 5th Generation adversary aircraft.”

Elon Musk, the newly appointed head of the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration, has been outspoken in his criticism of the F-35 program.

In November 2024, the CEO of Tesla ignited controversy by stating, “Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35.” This remark was shared on X along with a video demonstrating coordinated maneuvers of Chinese drones.

While the specific responsibilities and authority of Musk’s new role in the Trump administration are still uncertain, the F-35 Joint Program Office has defended the aircraft, highlighting its strong performance and adoption by 20 nations, with positive feedback from pilots.

“Pilots consistently express that this is the fighter they prefer to take into combat if necessary,” a spokesperson stated. “The international presence of the air system enhances the advantages of the platform, making it the preferred choice for our partners and allies.”