Those computers have access to every bit of data coming from the UAVs and every bit of control data going to the UAVs. So the fact that the compromised machine is in Nevada and not over Pakistan is pretty close to irrelevant.
Unless you want to make the argument that it's far worse for the ground control systems to be continually reinfected, as they have access to the rest of the air-gapped private network as well.
You don't need to tell me about the systems. I worked on them.
It's far less worse that the control stations are infected as opposed to the aircraft themselves. It's pretty easy to shift control stations for a UAV. It's not so easy to regain control of a malfunctioning UAV. So, far from irrelevant.
That said, I was merely clarifying a common misinterpretation people were getting from the article.
Unless you want to make the argument that it's far worse for the ground control systems to be continually reinfected, as they have access to the rest of the air-gapped private network as well.