US Army braces for cuts as Elon Musk audits Pentagon
Some units of the US Army are preparing lists of armament programmes they have long wanted to cancel in anticipation of potential cuts planned by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), reports The Wall Street Journal. The "savings" could amount to several billion pounds, and many significant programmes are in question.
Elon Musk, as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was appointed by Donald Trump to conduct an audit at the Pentagon. His goal is to identify potential abuses and waste of funds, which could amount to billions of pounds. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter, reports that this information has spurred many units to prepare lists of armament programmes that have long been planned to cancel. The Pentagon has not commented on these reports yet.
Pentagon under Elon Musk's scrutiny
Possible cuts are stirring many conflicting emotions. Their proponents believe they are necessary to improve the efficiency of the American defence industry. Their opponents argue that excessive cost reductions and budget cuts (currently amounting to £700 billion) could weaken the combat readiness of the USA and negatively impact America's current and future military strategy, which, in the face of growing security challenges, including the rapidly rising military power of China, should be an unwavering foundation.
Although detailed information about specific military programmes that may be affected by reductions has not yet been disclosed, analysts predict that ambitious and costly projects, such as the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter programme, may come under scrutiny. Especially since the NGAD programme, aimed at developing an advanced sixth-generation fighter, is one of the Pentagon's most expensive endeavours.
It is worth recalling that Joe Biden's administration requested £2.2 billion for NGAD research and development in the fiscal year 2025. Simultaneously, it was estimated that funding for this programme could increase to £4.5 billion by 2029. The development of these aircraft is not the only financial challenge. The unit cost of the NGAD aircraft is also unfavourable. In 2024, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) determined that it could cost as much as £238 million, which is more than three times the cost of a fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighter.
Such high costs raise concerns about the feasibility and scale of production of these machines. In response to these challenges, in the summer of 2024, the then US Air Force Secretary, Frank Kendall, decided to temporarily suspend the NGAD programme to reassess its scope, costs, and strategic requirements. The decision aimed to identify more cost-effective solutions that would allow the US to maintain air superiority in the face of dynamically changing threats.
According to Defence Industry Europe, senior American officials are increasingly questioning the original vision of the NGAD programme. Currently, various other options are being considered, including the integration of NGAD with unmanned systems and modifications in range and engine configuration to lower costs without compromising combat capabilities.
The race for sixth-generation fighters
Currently, many countries are developing their programmes aimed at creating sixth-generation fighters. The United States is working on the mentioned Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme. In Europe, two separate initiatives are being developed - France, Germany, and Spain are collaborating on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project, while the United Kingdom, Italy, and Sweden are developing the Tempest programme.
China is also participating in the race for sixth-generation fighters. Beijing reveals little about its programme and its progress. However, it is worth recalling that in December 2024, footage emerged showing two new Chinese aircraft with features suggesting belonging to this class. However, China has not officially confirmed that they possess such machines.
