[salem]

Rather than replacing manned planes, once software and AI catches up, it's more likely that a huge numbers of semi-automonous drones would get pared up with F-22s and F-35s as wingmen. It would solve the bandwidth and pilot shortage problems, and reduce the risk that a few anti-SAT missiles take out the entire drone fleet. Oh, and that helmet and the sensor fusion software is probably going to be a key stepping stone to making that happen.

[Symmetry]

We already have AWACS that are more or less designed as control planes, no need to keep the manned fighter planes around.

[salem]

If I'm in denied airspace, I'd rather be in an F-35