They’ve been the heroes of American power projection for generations, but a new question is shaking the Pentagon: Will the future of air combat leave our pilots grounded? As sixth-generation fighter programs ramp up, the U.S. military faces a pivotal choice—keep brave Americans in the skies or hand the mission to AI-driven drones that promise stealth and speed without risking lives.
The Pentagon is pouring billions into the F-47 program, America’s sixth-generation fighter, unveiled by President Trump after he revived the project in March. The Air Force wants it flying by 2030, aiming to outpace adversaries and keep America dominant in the air. But with drones like the MQ-9 Reaper proving themselves in surveillance and strikes, and autonomous systems evolving rapidly, some insiders believe the F-35 could be the last manned fighter.
“Inside the Air Force, there are hard-line air dominance people,” one former senior defense official told Fox News. “They’re on cloud nine after what the B-2s did in Iran… but in my mind, I say, why would we put men in that loop? Why wouldn’t we fly those things in 2050 unmanned, completely?”
The B-2 strike in Iran showcased America’s power, as pilots executed a 36-hour mission to take out three Iranian nuclear facilities, with Trump praising the “brave” pilots as “the best shots in the world.” But some defense leaders argue that risking American lives may no longer be necessary as AI matures.
Yet others warn that America’s adversaries aren’t ready to rely on unmanned systems alone—and neither should we. Former Rep. Mike Garcia, a naval aviator, insists that manned platforms like the F-47 are still critical, calling the debate about unmanned-only combat “aspirational.”
“You need low latency, high-bandwidth, distributed networks with critical nodes, and we don’t have that,” Garcia warned, pressing Boeing to deliver on time without turning the program into a drawn-out disaster. He emphasized that pilots serve as “quarterbacks” in the sky, coordinating unmanned aircraft while maintaining the situational awareness essential for winning modern wars.
Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula echoed these concerns, saying drones replacing pilots anytime soon belongs in “science fiction.” He warned that America’s air fleet is “the oldest, the smallest, and the least ready it’s ever been in its entire history,” blaming “arbitrary budgets that aren’t tied to our national defense strategy.”
Others see a split in the services’ approach. The Air Force is moving aggressively to rush the F-47 into service to counter unmanned advocates before they dominate the budget debate, while the Navy appears more cautious with its F/A-XX program, waiting to see if unmanned technology can mature in time.
At the core of this debate is America’s mission to project power while minimizing risk to human life in an era of near-peer conflict. Drones can loiter for days, strike with precision, and take risks pilots cannot. But autonomy still lacks the split-second decision-making and adaptability that combat pilots bring to the fight.
The Pentagon’s famously slow acquisition processes complicate matters further. By the time the F-47 is fully operational, drone technology may have advanced so far that America will need to re-evaluate whether it needs manned fighters at all. Yet for now, the demand for capable pilots willing to step into the cockpit remains as pressing as ever.
President Trump’s decision to continue with the F-47 is seen by many as a necessary move to keep America prepared, even as the country explores unmanned alternatives. But the debate is not going away, and the decisions made in the next few years will shape the future of American air power for decades to come.
Will the top guns of tomorrow still be American pilots, or will the next great battle in the skies be fought by machines with no one at the controls? The answer could determine America’s place in the world—and the lives of those who defend it.