era of high cost high tech things like helicopters, tanks and airplanes is clearly in transition
Tanks, yes. Helicopters, possibly. Planes, no. A stealth plane or heavy bomber can do things a drone cannot, and currently evades both air defenses and drones when used properly.
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Tanks, yes. Helicopters, possibly. Planes, no. A stealth plane or heavy bomber can do things a drone cannot, and currently evades both air defenses and drones when used properly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle: “An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly known as an aerial drone or simply drone”
⇒ “Drone” is orthogonal to size or shape. It is possible to design an unmanned aircraft that can (largely) replaced manned fighters or bombers.
And that isn’t hypothetical. See for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manned-unmanned_teaming, https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/s-70uas-u-hawk...