Makes sense. I read somewhere that in a modern fighter, as much as 40% of weight and space is dedicated to keeping the pilot alive.
Which means the next step is to make them fully automated so that a command (Barry) can order them to fire on Americans whereas a pilot can always say no.
” I read somewhere that in a modern fighter, as much as 40% of weight and space is dedicated to keeping the pilot alive.”
Not just keeping him alive. Avionics and flight controls add a HUGE amount of weight. Unmanned systems need computers too, but a lot of weight in a manned system is there to present information to the pilot (HUD, displays, audible tone/voice systems, the canopy itself, indicators lights, etc.) Or allow him/her to control things (switches, nobs, HOTAS, etc). For every extra device or control panel you need structure to firmly attach it in the cockpit. All that extra gear requires larger electric generators and, more complex cooling systems (in the F-35 it is liquid cooling). Human pilots also need voice communication. They have digital communication too, and that is all an unmanned system needs, so there are ‘extra’ radios on manned systems.
Just giving the pilot a padded seat and some air is the easy part.