And yet there aren't any operational autonomous fighters and some of the higher performance autonomous aircraft have limitations that restrict their effectivene

And yet there aren't any operational autonomous fighters and some of the higher performance autonomous aircraft have limitations that restrict their effectiveness. For example, the Global Hawk cannot fly through icing conditions[0]. In addition, air superiority fighters - the kind that emphasize high-G, stealth, and speed are somewhat outmoded in the current environment. The last decade of fighting has been against an irregular enemy without much more than pickup trucks, hiding in mountain villages. Emphasis has been moved to close air support aircraft such as the F-15E, AC-130, and the A-10. These aircraft loiter and talk with forward air controllers to direct fire into specific locations, such as a certain building or a ridgetop. How would we communicate this information to an autonomous high speed aircraft from the middle of a firefight? People haven't even been able field autonomous cars in silicon valley. 0: http://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/803666/global-hawk-icing-tests-open-doors-to-ease-flight-restrictions/ http://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/803666/g...