One prediction is that MQ-9B-type aircraft will eventually provide carrier-based airborne early warning and long-range maritime patrol, possibly replacing the Crow's Nest sensor system. That would move the sensors, but it would not settle where battle management occurs. Sending all control traffic from a carrier risks advertising its position before an enemy has located the task group. A modular Merlin helicopter carrying a roll-on command-and-control suite could move controllers forward, while the same helicopter pool could shift airframes between troop transport, lift, and control missions as operational demand changed.
Chapter · 29:05-33:18
The modern carrier drone control dilemma
Moving airborne-early-warning sensors onto drones still leaves the question of where command, control, and revealing transmissions should reside.