You don't have to save many Tucano and Hawk hours to more than pay for the UAS system. That must still be true.
Moreover, the enormous value of the UASs in winning friends among "future political, business and scientific leaders" is incalculable!
I mean, I'm only one ex-UAS journo who fights the RAF's corner 'cos I still feel I owe it for the many fun Bulldog hours and great fun times it gave me back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. And there are others. And those of my UAS year who didn't join all went on to become ardent supporters and evangelists for the RAF and defence spending - some of whom now qualify for the title of "future political, business and scientific leaders".
Sad to hear that on an individual basis the UASs might actually do someone's RAF career harm. Hard to believe, but I guess it's a very different world.