I don't think we will ever take 100% to Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)...I hate the term "drone" because it's a media creation, but that's another story...blueballs wrote:From the military standpoint, my question would be how long will it take for drones to entirely take over the strike operations, rendering the need for those planes moot?
A number of strike missions require manned aircraft because they are in support of ground troops in close contact...it takes someone in the aircraft to recognize a quickly changing situation to avoid fratricide...and we still have that happen...
Imagine an RPA doing close air support???
There are also technical reasons...