Statistics
Some stats:
Northrop Grumman - Global Hawk:
Wingspan wider than that of a B737.
Projected Cost $35 million each or the price Ryanair might pay for a B737-800.
Actual Cost $218 million each or the price of a new A380.
Cost over-run of 620%.
Block 30 version was due to replace the U-2 from 2015, but has now been shelved because it costs more to operate.
United States Military Drone Programs:
Total cost of US drone program $23 Billion.
USAF had 129 medium and high altitude drone crashes worldwide in the last 15 years with damage in excess of $500,000.
Most accident prone fleet in USAF with 9.31 crashes per 100,000 hours versus 3.03 for other fixed wing aircraft.
Doesn’t exactly bode well for pilot-less airliners.