Musk Warns the US 'will lose the next war very badly'
Elon Musk has cautioned that the country risks significant setbacks in upcoming conflicts unless there are prompt improvements to antiquated weapons programs. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The nation faces the risk of major defeat in future conflicts without immediate reforms to outdated weapons programs, the tech billionaire has warned.
The United States is at significant risk of losing in its upcoming military engagements unless it urgently addresses its outdated defense systems, according to a stark assessment from Elon Musk.
Musk, who is the owner of X and leads SpaceX and Tesla, has taken on the role of “special government employee” to spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump and has become one of his principal advisers.
“American weapons programs need to be completely redone. The current strategy is to build a small number of weapons at a high price to fight yesterday’s war. Unless there are immediate and dramatic changes made, America will lose the next war very badly,” Musk shared on X.
The billionaire has consistently criticized the inefficiencies present in the US defense sector, asserting that excessive bureaucracy and outdated military strategies adversely affect national security.
Musk’s DOGE has been actively focused on streamlining federal operations, including defense-related areas. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, known for producing the Predator drone, has urged DOGE to reform the Pentagon’s contracting system, as it considers the current process too slow and bureaucratic to effectively counter threats from countries like China and Iran.
L3Harris Technologies, a leading defense contractor, has offered recommendations to DOGE aimed at enhancing the defense acquisition system. Suggestions include eliminating redundant Cost Accounting Standard requirements and creating a central contracting entity within the Office of the Secretary of Defense to oversee joint procurement programs.
In its initial 80 hours of operations, DOGE has already canceled about $420 million in government contracts as part of a broader initiative to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion.
Musk’s critiques have not been limited to defense practices but have extended to specific programs as well. He has been particularly harsh on the F-35 fighter jet program, criticizing it as a “sh*t design” and advocating for a greater emphasis on unmanned systems, which he perceives as more efficient and effective in contemporary warfare.
During a speech at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York in February, Musk highlighted the significant role of drones and artificial intelligence in modern warfare, using the conflict in Ukraine as a key illustration.
“The current war in Ukraine is very much a drone war already,” Musk observed. “If there’s a major power war, it’s very much going to be a drone war.” He urged for increased investment in drone manufacturing and a swift ramp-up in production, cautioning against the dangers of preparing for past conflicts rather than those of the future. “Countries pretty much are geared up to fight the last war, not the next war,” Musk warned.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
The United States is at significant risk of losing in its upcoming military engagements unless it urgently addresses its outdated defense systems, according to a stark assessment from Elon Musk.
Musk, who is the owner of X and leads SpaceX and Tesla, has taken on the role of “special government employee” to spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump and has become one of his principal advisers.
“American weapons programs need to be completely redone. The current strategy is to build a small number of weapons at a high price to fight yesterday’s war. Unless there are immediate and dramatic changes made, America will lose the next war very badly,” Musk shared on X.
The billionaire has consistently criticized the inefficiencies present in the US defense sector, asserting that excessive bureaucracy and outdated military strategies adversely affect national security.
Musk’s DOGE has been actively focused on streamlining federal operations, including defense-related areas. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, known for producing the Predator drone, has urged DOGE to reform the Pentagon’s contracting system, as it considers the current process too slow and bureaucratic to effectively counter threats from countries like China and Iran.
L3Harris Technologies, a leading defense contractor, has offered recommendations to DOGE aimed at enhancing the defense acquisition system. Suggestions include eliminating redundant Cost Accounting Standard requirements and creating a central contracting entity within the Office of the Secretary of Defense to oversee joint procurement programs.
In its initial 80 hours of operations, DOGE has already canceled about $420 million in government contracts as part of a broader initiative to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion.
Musk’s critiques have not been limited to defense practices but have extended to specific programs as well. He has been particularly harsh on the F-35 fighter jet program, criticizing it as a “sh*t design” and advocating for a greater emphasis on unmanned systems, which he perceives as more efficient and effective in contemporary warfare.
During a speech at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York in February, Musk highlighted the significant role of drones and artificial intelligence in modern warfare, using the conflict in Ukraine as a key illustration.
“The current war in Ukraine is very much a drone war already,” Musk observed. “If there’s a major power war, it’s very much going to be a drone war.” He urged for increased investment in drone manufacturing and a swift ramp-up in production, cautioning against the dangers of preparing for past conflicts rather than those of the future. “Countries pretty much are geared up to fight the last war, not the next war,” Musk warned.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
