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Prominent figures with close ties to the American President have recently intensified their criticism of aerospace and defence giant Lockheed Martin, this time labeling the F-35 program as pursuing a “woke agenda” in addition to questioning the aircraft’s combat readiness.
Over the past weekend, right-wing activist Laura Loomer, known for her close connections to the President, launched a scathing attack on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program in a lengthy post on X. Loomer asserted that the stealth fighter jet is ‘not combat-ready’. She also accused the American defence contractor of prioritising a ‘woke agenda’ over operational effectiveness.
Loomer’s accusation is noteworthy. Normally it’s the left side of the political spectrum that look at Defense contractors with skepticism. They frequently portray them as unethical and harmful. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin reportedly discontinued its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs earlier this year following the President’s return to the White House.
F-35
The criticism extended beyond the company’s internal policies to its flagship product, the F-35. Loomer claimed that Lockheed Martin is delivering F-35s that are ‘simply not ready for deployment in a conflict.’ She cites years of delays and technical shortcomings. Without providing evidence, she further alleged that the U.S. Air Force is accepting aircraft with non-functional radar systems.
Political weight
While such unsubstantiated claims are not uncommon, Loomer’s statements could potentially carry political weight. The President is often receptive to advice and opinions from individuals outside of traditional political and professional spheres. Notably, Loomer reportedly played a role in the President’s decision to dismiss the NSA director earlier in April.
Adding to the critical voices, tech billionaire Elon Musk, currently head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), also weighed in on the F-35 issue on Saturday. Musk posted that ‘Manned aircraft will be instantly obliterated by cheap drone swarms.’ He has previously suggested that drones will eventually surpass traditional combat aircraft in effectiveness. This claim has been disputed by defence experts. Loomer urged the President, Musk, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to launch an investigation into the F-35 program. She stated: ‘This is government waste on an unimaginable scale, and it’s coming out of our pockets!’