I don't think they're designed for offense, aside from network penetration there's little they could attack. If they have sensors, though, you have this cloud painting you, which you can't hope to shoot down, while a missile flies in from another direction by an unseen assailant.
All they need to do is see and report. Remember the importance placed on downing balloons in WWI, which led to the creation of the armed fighter in the first place.
The Jedi Master