Rather than replacing manned planes, once software and AI catches up, it's more likely that a huge numbers of semi-automonous drones would get pared up with F-22s and F-35s as wingmen. It would solve the bandwidth and pilot shortage problems, and reduce the risk that a few anti-SAT missiles take out the entire drone fleet.
Oh, and that helmet and the sensor fusion software is probably going to be a key stepping stone to making that happen.
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Rather than replacing manned planes, once software and AI catches up, it's more likely that a huge numbers of semi-automonous drones would get pared up with F-22s and F-35s as wingmen. It would solve the bandwidth and pilot shortage problems, and reduce the risk that a few anti-SAT missiles take out the entire drone fleet. Oh, and that helmet and the sensor fusion software is probably going to be a key stepping stone to making that happen.
We already have AWACS that are more or less designed as control planes, no need to keep the manned fighter planes around.
If I'm in denied airspace, I'd rather be in an F-35