These are going to be experienced test pilots who are pretty good at actively managing autopilots and other automated systems. Plus they'll be backed up by telemetry to ground controllers. But ultimately the military is willing to accept some losses in order to advance key R&D programs.
Later they'll replace them with minimum wage safety pilots.
Or outsource to a pilot procurement company in China.
There is precedent after all: https://www.propublica.org/article/microsoft-tech-support-go...