WTH,
The US military planners are far from dumb. Civilian leadership is a different kettle of fish.
The US is developing and already has developed and fielded multiple types of drones. Cheap attritable ones (SUASes), slightly more sophisticated "pickup trucks" useful for multiple roles like ISR, launching missiles, MUM-T(manned unmanned teaming), lumbering behemoths fir refueling, highly autonomous ones that don't care about jamming, etc.

Even aircraft carriers are being converted to be basically mobile drone launchers.

Military planners are very aware of the different theaters of war and have gamed out possible conflicts. What works in the Middle East won't work in Europe or the Pacific theater, for example. So the DoD is trying to fund programs accordingly. But then there is Congress...

US Policy FAQ

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