[TalonDJ]

I heard it takes over 200 personnel to support UAVs.

Not surprising. In addition to it being a full blow aircraft with all the maintenance needs of one, you also need the infrastructure for the data link.

Plus until these things have been PROVEN in a serious war, one where the other side uses anti satellite weapons then it will be national suicide to sell all the manned systems and replace them. It would be a pretty nasty shock to have a Chinese carrier off the coast and all our drones are at the bottom of the ocean because they shot a few satellites down.

[USAF80]

They don’t even need ASATS. Just take out the link. With a man in the cockpit you can still do your mission.