If we're going to do that, we need to give them the tools necessary to be effective (including, as you say, UAS for spotting). At various times we have had coastal artillery, anti-aircraft guns in cities, anti-aircraft missiles around infrastructure ... as long as the militarization is aimed at protecting against foreign invaders, it's well within the limits of what fed.gov should be doing.
Also the infrastructure that supports, assesses, and analyzes experimental aircraft is in the US; it’s much cheaper to test this aircraft at Pax River than fly it and everyone involved to Timbuctu or the South Pole or wherever the drone-phobics think it is acceptable to operate unmanned aircraft.
Exactly right. Thanks.