General Atomics in California manufactures two models of the Predator. The Air Force hopes to use drones eventually to do the work of cargo planes and bombers, deploying them in swarms. Jim Wilson/The New York TimesFrom The New York Times:
Small remotely piloted planes are now used mainly to gather intelligence and fire missiles at insurgents. But over the next several decades, the Air Force envisions building larger ones that could do the work of bombers and cargo planes and even tiny ones that could spy inside a room.
In a report released Thursday laying out a “flight plan” for developing pilotless systems, the Air Force also said it could eventually field swarms of drones to attack enemy targets.
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My Comment: The New York Times pinpoints the main reason why Drones represent the future. Economies of scale. They are cheaper and more easier to maintain than manned aircraft.
Another part of the story that I found interesting is the focus of the Air Force to eventually field swarms of drones to attack enemy targets. High value targets in Pakistan usually have an additional one or two extra drones in the background when a strike is called in. But to have a number of them striking a target or multiple targets at the same time .... this will be impressive.