But the Europeans (EU) don't like UAVs in their airspace they have no control over. global hawk, too small as has been stated.
The actual airframe cost is probably not that expensive as most of the systems are OTS, it's the sensor packages that cost, training, if you can have civilians wearing space suits then highly trained military pilots as has been proved is not a problem.
Lose the capability and you may not get it back, damn 'bean counters' when did they ever win a war, REMFs all of them.