Leon,
Yep, we could mimic DCGS using commercial satellite infra, but I don't think that's any more assured than relying on the US. Lots of effort has been put into assessing that as an option and it's fraught with issues.
That's one of the attractions of autonomy (for strike missions, that is, ISR would still be a struggle I think). However, that level of UAS cap would still be several years off for UK industry to achieve, even if we invested seriously now. I think a more realistic goal would be development of something in the WATCHKEEPER mould - only not sh!t. A proper ISTAR TUAV, with cutting edge sensors and weapons, a good level of autonomy and enabled by forward deployed and/or 'self-hop' VHF relay. All doable. I assess UK industry could deliver that for Defence inside 6 years IF we invested based on need not greed. Admittedly a big ask.
Sun