Originally Posted by
atakacs
Bit of a thread drift but what mission do they carry that can not be performed by those might UAVs and Sats?!
Much more precise tasking (satellites have intervals between passes) and can loiter. Bigger sensor payload (plus human in cockpit) and probably better coverage (range and speed) than most UAV. U-2S has published range of 6000 miles+, I believe the only drone that beats it is RQ-4 Global Hawk. U-2 has greater payload and probably more special ones than the drones
I am not an expert but do work with all kinds of satellite and aerial sensors (mainly lidar).