But they’re unmanned.
A manned CAS aircraft will be the traditional alternative.
Manned by an enlisted USAF pilot. Maybe this trend would be a catalyst for the revival of enlisted USAF pilots. Flying chevrons, if you will, and assign a Captain or Major instead of an LTC as a CAS aircraft squadron CO.
They ARE manned. The person manning them is doing it remotely, but there IS a human controlling the aircraft, and particularly all decisions to fire.