Hmmm, this sentence appears to be a paradox? Is the US not fighting Iran right now?

Iran has a very weak air force and the US claims air superiority, yet Iran is using a lot of drones.

I think your comment proves GP's point, regardless of traditional air power, drones will feature heavily in any conflict.

Very soon, "good enough" robotic autonomous infantry will exist which will make soldiers in the 21st century look as outdated as cavalry.

I cannot see any reason, over than oversight and a lack of imagination, why something useful in Ukraine in 2022 was not feasible or useful in 2017 by the USA.

We already used drones quite handily well before that time frame but in a much more limited manner in a different form factor.

We're talking about an incremental fragment of the US military budget. It's fair to compare it to an incremental fragment of public wellness that would cost less and have profound impact.

> and a large component of this funding request is for capital expenditures, not ongoing operational expenditure

Oh, of course. You're right. I forgot that drones have zero operational costs and that military spending will decrease next year instead of increasing again and again and again like always.