pays to reduce multicrew to twin, twin to single etc
Bring on the UAVs...
Agree with your cost arguement... for the right reason. At the end of the day, cutting costs to buy fewer, but more advanced aircraft may mean an overall reduction in capability. One aircraft on a mission might get shot down, two aircraft, with half the number of bombs on each, means one may get through etc, etc? What yardstick for success are you using, ORAC... Cost saving, never won a conflict yet (to my knowledge?)