Carrier UCAV economics depend on having the aircraft ready

Would replacing most aircraft on a carrier with UCAVs make more economic sense?

Possibly, but only if the unmanned aircraft are ready; the idea cannot save money until the aviation system actually exists and works.

Practical readiness comes first: the unmanned aircraft must exist in usable form before they can replace manned aircraft economically. Unmanned air groups are promising, but they cannot save money until the full aviation system works. A brief aside also corrects aircraft as both the singular and plural form. The grammar point comes from experience teaching aerospace students.