Originally Posted by
Less Hair
I would bring back small liaison aircraft. Many of them. Cub, L-19-style or Helio Courier/Fieseler Storch style. STOL. Powered by kerosene burning piston engines. If you look at how simple, easy maintenance and low cost they were and compare this to today's drone infrastructure, these flying Jeeps would be good for many uses. Low technology and cheap compared to anything new. No datalinks, no jamming, no big radar return.
Think the military have been persuaded that getting rid of the crew is more effective.
The ability to lose things without needing to mount an expensive and often hazardous rescue operation is very attractive. Plus the full cost of a crew is astronomical, at least in the US, as it entails pensions and health care for the dependents.