Is The U.S. About To Lose It's Drone Edge?

Will U.S. Lose Its Drone Edge? -- David Axe, The Diplomat

A decade after the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency flew its first armed Predator drones over Afghanistan, the consensus view is that the U.S. military and intelligence community have achieved a lasting near-monopoly on robotic warfare. The Pentagon and CIA operate the vast majority of the world’s armed Remotely-Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and sponsor most of the cutting-edge research and development for new drones.

But that could change, according to two experts who hold outside views. They say increasingly sophisticated foreign armies – for example the Chinese People’s Liberation Army – could render U.S. drones useless in future high-intensity conflicts.

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My Comment: It is still too early to make an assessment on where will America's drone monopoly/edge end (or not). But .... with huge impending cuts now on the horizon for U.S. weapon systems .... who is to say that this monopoly may end when countries with deep resources and commitment (like China) may decide to then get into this game.