A scalable drone normally receives instructions rather than transmitting every control input of a remotely flown aircraft. Constant manual control would consume enormous data capacity in addition to creating security and hacking concerns. Satellite networks remain limited compared with terrestrial and undersea cable capacity, despite the reach systems such as Starlink provide. Mass uncrewed operations therefore depend on communications architecture and onboard autonomy as much as on the airframes themselves.
Chapter · 28:31-30:53
Communications bandwidth limits drone scale
Large drone fleets cannot be treated as infinitely connected: continuous remote piloting consumes scarce bandwidth and exposes command links to disruption.