Valid points Sky.
Personally I don't see autonomous drones in air combat (or any combat) for at least a decade or more. But remote operated air combat drones are a very possible with today's tech and need to be something we seriously consider here in the US.
Severing of Commlink between operator and drone is possible but very difficult. China or Russia might be able to jam it briefly, Iran possibly but I doubt someone group like AQ could pull it off with out finding them selves on the wrong side of an AGM-88.
You are right about so many drones crashing, right now we are in the "WWI" stage of drones. Vietnam was the "Wright Brothers" stage, today we are still learning what works and what doesn't. I think putting more drones in service only increases our knowledge and experience with them, with everyone that crashed the boys over at Lockheed etc learn a little more.
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