"Top Secret" projects do share information with other "Top Secret" projects and over time many things do get declassified. IMO, the real problem is drones are

"Top Secret" projects do share information with other "Top Secret" projects and over time many things do get declassified. IMO, the real problem is drones are simply more useful and a lot less expensive but chances are they can take a fair amount of R&D related to this project, and apply it to drones. Also, total defense spending has crossed the 1 trillion / year number a while ago so cost wise this is not that unreasonable over the next 40 years. (Including things like nuclear weapons research at the DoE, GAO oversite, pensions, survivor benefits, and healthcare etc.)