Removing the cockpit does not automatically produce a much smaller combat aircraft. Engines, fuel, and weapon bays occupy most of a strike aircraft's volume, and shrinking them quickly sacrifices capability. Computers and their cooling consume part of the space saved by removing the pilot. The discussion also raises the effect of high-frequency jamming on the electronics controlling an uncrewed aircraft. These constraints can leave its deck footprint close to that of a crewed type performing the same mission.
Notable Point · 24:28-26:28
Why removing the pilot does not make combat aircraft small
Uncrewed carrier aircraft still need engines, fuel, weapons, computing, cooling, and protection from electromagnetic interference, so their deck footprint may remain close to that of crewed aircraft.