Erm, hang on...
If these drones are being remotely operated, doesn't that provide next season's bad guy (tm) with a lovely new vector of attack?
Step 1 : Jam communications between drones and fleet.
Step 2 : Fly very slowly over forces of freedom, chortling as you go...
In fact, where are these drones being piloted from? Surely these facilities will become high priority targets, and when they do, might they not find their whole bricks and mortal, stuck in the ground nature to be a bit of a drag?
I don't like the way all this is going... I don't want to needlessly endanger pilots any more than the next guy, but sometimes there is so substitute for having a thinking, feeling lump of meat in the front seat. So is it needless?