Valid points, no offense taken, and just you know, this isn't a "tanker guy jealous because the fighter guys are getting new toys." I enjoy having debate like this.

I agree there are short comings with UAVs. If we already have the F-22 for Air Supremacy, why do we need the F-35? Does the F-22 suck? Are there shortcomings (don't discuss this here obviously)? And if is so, why are there?

If we are buying the F-35 to be a fighter (air-to-air), but we are going to employ it as a bomber, I think that is a mistake. 99% of the fighters I've refueled (F-14, F-15, F-16, F-117) were employed to be a bomber, but, the air-to-air capability was there.

For the record, I hate UAVs. I hate the thought of our machines fighting the enemy. I just don't think it is ethical. But then again, our enemies today don't seem to want to play by the rules.

-Fatty