ShotOne, the reaper is hardly an air combat aircraft, certainly not offensive air-to-air in its current form. A strike aircraft might be a more apt description, and there is no reason why a strike aircraft could not be leased*. At the rate things are changing with UAVs it would not be wise to tie oneself to one system for too long.
The only stage at which military personnel might be required is when making the decision to engage a target. Even then, there are precedents in Iraq of contractors making those decisions (Blackwater perhaps?).
*The French provision of Super Etendards to Iraq being a case in point.
Last edited by Mechta; 7th Oct 2015 at 14:47.