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Personally I am thinking how mission planning and execution would improve **IF**, as a logical evolution, the 'armed Predator' were available in a higher-speed, more weapons-variable, more survivable platform. [who needs a crewed platform orbiting the battlefield, patrolling a kill-box when a SUITABLE UCAV could put guided munitions on target?]

I do NOT believe we can take a human out of the cockpit of an ait-to-air mission, or out of a close air support mission; at least not for YEARS. The F-22 has a long life ahead of it to secure air superiority and supremacy, to win air-to-air engagement, to provide some air-to-mud. The A-10 or its eventual replacement (the Marines like the F-18D) will always have a manned mission if you ask me.

Now, just to gig you a little -- I presume from your name you are a former zoomie ... is your preference for people in the cockpit just *slightly* colored by your perspective? ;-)

I DO firmly believe that advances in systems, targeting etc etc put a crew in the B-2 for no apparent reason.

With a plane that big it is almost 'because we can'. Adding the humans still adds a lot of flexibility and in a plane that big it is not at a sacrifice of much payload. Nor, with several people, is it a sacrifice of much loiter time.

Personally I am thinking how mission planning and execution would improve **IF**, as a logical evolution, the 'armed Predator' were available in a higher-speed, more weapons-variable, more survivable platform. [who needs a crewed platform orbiting the battlefield, patrolling a kill-box when a SUITABLE UCAV could put guided munitions on target?]

What makes you think we don't already have that? FReepers forget that we hid a big-ass B-2 Bomber program from the world for over 10 years. (I know nothing). Yes, I am a former Naval Aviator. 'Zoomie' is an Air Force term, but I will forgive the insult.