I think if you put "Elon Musk" in double quotes this makes a lot more sense. SpaceX completely changed the launch costs for the Air Force and NASA. It makes sense they would try to replicate that experience elsewhere.

> We don’t know which defense contractor designed and prototyped the new jet, though it's almost certainly one of the big aerospace giants (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing).

Wouldn't it be interesting if this isn't true tho. What if there's some stealthy startup out there trying to SpaceX the rest of the defense industry?

Honestly I'd be even more surprised if it was one of the established giants because what a turnaround that would be.

> AII's goals include strengthening the critically important design teams in the defense industrial base and reducing the lead time for future systems.[1]

Apropos a 2015 DARPA program leading to flight demonstrators. So acquisition innovation to improve innovation acquisition.

[1] https://aviationweek.com/shows-events/afa-air-space-cyber-co...

Ah, so "and perhaps give a shot at designing an F-35 competitor to someone like SpaceX founder Elon Musk"... hmm.