Robowarriors Outnumber Fighter Jocks -- Strategy Page
This year, for the first time, the U.S. Air Force will train more UAV operators than fighter pilots. Some of those UAV operators were, for the first time, not already trained as pilots for other air force aircraft. The air force has long insisted that UAV operators already be manned aircraft pilots, and allowed most of them to spend only three years operating UAVs before returning to manned aircraft. This has limited the number of UAV operators available, and forced the air force to create a larger UAV operator training program than they would have needed if all UAV pilots were career UAV pilots. Some UAV pilots are now in it for their entire careers, and the air force is moving towards making it that way for all UAV operators.
Read more ....
My Comment: Who would have thought that this was possible 10 years ago. This clearly reveals the growth and importance of drones for operations in present and future conflict zones. I can only presume that 10 years from now the mass majority of pilots who will graduate will be drone pilots.