Artificial intelligence guides US Air Force fighter during combat against human pilot

A US Air Force jet controlled by artificial intelligence successfully intercepted a human-piloted fighter jet during aerial combat testsIt shows the full capability of the technology. The experiment was conducted in 2023, but the results have only now been announced.

As announced by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) last Wednesday (17), An artificial intelligence system trained with Air Force security protocols and capable of autonomous piloting was installed on the X-62A experimental aircraft.. The vehicle went through several simulations before actual testing.

In the experiment, conducted last September, an AI-piloted fighter jet flew over Edwards Air Force Base in California during a “close dogfight” against another F-16 fighter jet piloted by a human. During the event the aircraft reached speeds of over 3,000 km/h.

The test, which started with defensive maneuvers that prioritized safety, moved on to offensive maneuvers with the fighters making high-speed passes from a distance of approximately 600 m. We do not know whether the military plane used by artificial intelligence won the duel.Since DARPA does not provide such detail.

Tests continue with artificial intelligence piloted fighter jet

The use of artificial intelligence systems that can pilot warplanes began to be implemented by DARPA in 2022 as part of the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program. Since that time, The agency has made a lot of progressThe successful completion of this final test was widely celebrated.

“The potential for autonomous air-to-air warfare has been dreamed of for decades, but reality has remained a distant dream until now. In 2023, the X-62A broke one of the most important barriers in combat aviation. This is a transformational moment,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.

The agency stated that new tests similar to this should be carried out in 2024 for developments in technology. It is worth noting that The human pilots were on board the X-62A aircraft for safety reasons and had the autonomy to override the AI ​​and take control of the aircraft. if the technology exhibits inappropriate behavior.

Despite, Thanks to artificial intelligence piloting the fighter plane throughout the flight, there was no need to shut down the systemAs announced by the US Air Force.