Elon Musk Says Human-Piloted Fighter Jets like the F-35 Are Obsolete. Drone Tech Can’t Yet Fill the Gap.

Drones are changing war in ways we never thought possible, but are we to the point where uncrewed systems can replace top-dollar weapons like the F-35 stealth fighter?

Prominent tech-industry figures say yes. Analysts and former warfighters say that we aren't there yet and that replacement might not be the right call, regardless.

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"Most of the drones that the Pentagon is investing in to increase its 'mass' on the battlefield or provide enough capacity to overwhelm enemy defenses are not nearly as capable as crewed aircraft," Stacie Pettyjohn, the director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, said, noting "they are supposed to be cheap so that they can be purchased in large numbers."

"They lack the range, survivability, and payload capacity of larger, more expensive crewed jets," she added. "These, in particular, are not going to be able to replace the capabilities provided by crewed aircraft like the F-35 or B-2 bomber."

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