Drone wingmen may revive the value of a second crew member

Can single-seat fighters effectively control drone wingmen?

A second crew member or supplementary control from a base or ship is preferred; a single pilot would need sufficiently capable automation and a manageable way to direct the drones.

Flying a fighter in combat while supervising drone wingmen places competing demands on one pilot. The studies Alex Clarke has seen favour a second crew member, although improved control systems could eventually make a single-seat arrangement workable. The alternatives depend on how much autonomy is trusted in intense combat and how much supplementary control can come from a base or ship further back. Helicopters already carrying more than one crew member have an advantage in dividing these duties. Two-seat F/A-18Fs and EA-18Gs are plausible candidates, with the Growler's wiring offering additional scope for electronic equipment. The preference for a second person reflects concern about workload even when computers handle more individual tasks.