I could see using a combination of manned and drones.
Current Predator technology has the drone being controlled via satellite link, but that option has finite bandwidth for visuals, plus is vulnerable to the satellites being destroyed in a conflict with a first-class adversary.
One thing I'd like to see is a UAV which could be controlled by a guy in a trailing aircraft, with the UAV pilot having a hi-definition panoramic view of what's going on, using an F-35 helmet
The manned aircraft flies far enough away to be out of range of hostile SAMs, but close enough that they can have a direct, high-bandwidth link offering the UAV pilot a high-def view of battle zone. Make the UAVs cheap enough that there can be a whole bunch of them, so the human pilot can switch control to another UAV if one gets shot down.
We are in agreement. Merry Christmas FRiend!