Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are coming, like it or not. The U.S. Navy has purchased Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout helicopter UAVs to operate from the Navy's littoral combat ships (LCSs). The Independence-class LCSs with their odd trimaran hull are all based in the Pacific and operate detachments with one manned MH-60S helo and one MQ-8C UAV helo per ship when deployed. The Navy hemmed and hawed a bit, but in the end decided not to arm the MQ-8C but to use it to extend the ship's sensors.
The MQ-8C is based on the Bell 407 helicopter and has good performance for the UAV mission, including excellent endurance. Of course you want to maintain contact with the UAV which minimizes the distance you want it to travel but stationing the MQ-8C several dozen miles from the ship for 10+ hours is a real advantage.
The Navy has not jumped in with both feet, though: They bought 38 MQ-8Cs, all stationed on the west coast. 10 Fire Scouts are active at any given time, with the other 28 in storage and available to cover potential losses, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northr...-8C_Fire_Scout