[hyperbovine]

Yes. There was a piece on 60 Minutes a few years back where they had a big (~20 ft. wingspan maybe), loud drone circling overhead a few thousand feet up. It was inaudible and invisible. What's the point in solving a hard problem like hi-res imagery from space when you can just fly one of these over the target practically at will? (With a Hellfire missile attached, no less.) Range and airspace issues notwithstanding, the drone future is a scary place.

[planteen]

> Range and airspace issues notwithstanding

Those are precisely the reasons satellites will remain relevant. Satellites are the reason the SR-71 fell out of service. Russia can and will shoot down US aircraft or drones in their airspace.

[hyperbovine]

SR-71 is about as far from a drone as you can possibly get. Politicians are going to (pretend to) care a lot less about airspace sovereignty when violating someone else's airspace does not involve risking pilots' lives. Range and stealth are only going to increase. This is why I said the future looks bleak.