[ProtectOurFreedom]

So the drone can carry two missiles 230 miles at relatively low speed before they are launched. The drone plus two missiles would add HUGE drag to the mother fighter seriously degrading its performance and range.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to increase the missile range by 230 miles and skip the drone entirely? This doesn’t add up.

[CurlyDave]

...Wouldn’t it make more sense to increase the missile range by 230 miles and skip the drone entirely? This doesn’t add up.

It actually makes more sense to skip the F-15 or F-16 and let the drone do most of the work.

The drones are expendable and carry a few missiles. Something like an AWACS finds targets and cues the drones, which swarm the target and fire missiles.

If no targets are found, the drones return to base for refueling and a new mission. No pilots to get shot down and captured.

[PapaBear3625]

So the drone can carry two missiles 230 miles at relatively low speed before they are launched. The drone plus two missiles would add HUGE drag to the mother fighter seriously degrading its performance and range.

Or don't launch from a fighter at all. How many of these buggers can a C-130 carry? Have a stealth fighter go ahead, designate targets, and then tell the trailing C-130 to launch missiles. LOTS of missiles.

But I do agree with the idea of skipping the drone and just adding range to the missile.