Helig wrote:
Actually it was the JSF which was cancelled, the F22 is active and in service now.
Active, but further production was stopped.
Helig wrote:
Also the weapons load-out of UAVs tends to be lacking compared to most of our current lineup of aircraft, and I don't recall any UAVs being armed with guns for running CAS operations in support of ground forces
Is there any reason in principle these craft can't be armed with cannons? Even assuming they can't, it's not a binary choice between a tin can drone and a gold-plated F22.
If you want cannons, a Warthog (or something like that) is the way to go.
Helig wrote:
hence why there are times when its better to send up a manned conventional aircraft which can recon a target, drop a few bombs then scoot over to a different area of operations to lay down fire in a close air support capacity.
Economics. If you buy ten drones instead of one F22, there's no need to "scoot" over.
Having an F22 recon reduces its operational effectiveness due to opportunity cost. That's flight and fuel time not spent blowing things up.
Weena wrote:
Is a spy plane still a spy plane if it has weapons?
Ask the spooks.