Daniel Lis’ Post

Officials emphasize that AI’s ability to dogfight is a spectacular feat, but the capability is a means to a bigger end: demonstrating that AI can be trusted to fly a fighter jet, paving the way to even greater airborne autonomy testing. “Asking the question of who won [the dogfights] doesn’t necessarily capture the nuance of the testing that we accomplished,” said DARPA ACE Program Manager Lt. Col. Ryan Hefron. According to Valpiani, the larger point of the program is “how do we apply machine learning to combat autonomy.” “The potential for machine learning in aviation, whether military or civil, is enormous,” he said. “And these fundamental questions of how do we do it, how do we do it safely, how do we train them, are the questions that we are trying to get after.” https://lnkd.in/gJpBiSms

From a post on Facebook by Technology Innovation The US air force made history by organizing the first dogfight between a human pilot and an AI-controlled fighter jet. This happened at Edwards Air Force Base in California in September last year. The computer-operated F-16 faced off against a manned F-16 aircraft in aerial combat. The two jets, reaching speeds of 1,200 miles per hour, practiced defensive and offensive maneuvers, including close-range combat called dogfighting. They even got as close as 2,000 feet (610 meters) to each other during the exercise. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released video of the close-range air combat between the two jets. The footage shows the jets maneuvering around each other as they fly through the sky. The autonomous aircraft, named the X-62A Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA), is a modified F-16 equipped with an AI program. Since its construction in December 2022, the jet has been on over 21 test flights, accumulating more than 17 hours of flight time. This marks the first instance of using machine learning to control a fighter jet. While flying, the AI algorithm on the jet examines data and makes instant decisions, a method known as machine learning. This mimics how fighter pilots develop their instincts through years of practice. Carrying out a dogfight between an AI-powered jet and a human marks a “transformational moment in aerospace history”, DARPA said in a statement. #AI #dogfight #usairforce #usa #usmilitary

https://lnkd.in/dHKFHcYK The US Air Force conducted the first simulated aerial battle between an AI-modified F-16 called the X-62A and a human pilot. The X-62A did reportedly have a human “failsafe” pilot in the cockpit, but apart from that the exercise was completely controlled by artificial intelligence. This development could revolutionize the future of unmanned aerial vehicles like the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative. The Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program made significant progress in 2023, with the US Air Force Test Pilot School and the Air Force Research Laboratory playing crucial roles in its success. The goal of this “battle” was to see if the AI algorithms could function well when faced with a human opponent while adhering to flying norms (ensuring the aircraft’s safety and the pilot’s well-being), part of DARPA’s and the USAF’s mission to make AI-enabled aircraft more “trustable” for human crew. According to Interesting Engineering, the X-62A is a heavily modified two-seat F-16D whose flight systems can be adjusted to replicate those of almost any other aircraft, making it an exceptional stand-in for a wide range of testing purposes that require a real-world platform. Que Harris, the lead flight controls engineer for the X-62A at Lockheed Martin, explained that the aircraft has an integrated space within its flight controls that allows for AI to send it commands. The X-62A reportedly completed 21 test flights during which the AI agents required reprogramming almost every day, resulting in over 100,000 lines of code being changed. AFRL has previously emphasized the ability to further assist this type of flight testing by rapidly training and retraining algorithms in entirely digital environments. The US military said that there will always be human involvement when operating autonomous weapon systems in the future, but added that the extent of their participation in the decision-making process is expected to change with time. #technews #ai #ia #aircraft #security #unmannedsystems #military #usa #geopolitics

Military aircraft programs train pilots against threats such as drone swarms, but often neglect GPS/GNSS simulation to reproduce real cockpit instruments, instead using facsimile instruments. Safran #military #militarytechnology #drones #simulation #simulators #defence #defenceindustry

So awesome! Found on Technology Innovation FB page. The US air force made history by organizing the first dogfight between a human pilot and an AI-controlled fighter jet. This happened at Edwards Air Force Base in California in September last year. The computer-operated F-16 faced off against a manned F-16 aircraft in aerial combat. The two jets, reaching speeds of 1,200 miles per hour, practiced defensive and offensive maneuvers, including close-range combat called dogfighting. They even got as close as 2,000 feet (610 meters) to each other during the exercise. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released video of the close-range air combat between the two jets. The footage shows the jets maneuvering around each other as they fly through the sky. The autonomous aircraft, named the X-62A Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA), is a modified F-16 equipped with an AI program. Since its construction in December 2022, the jet has been on over 21 test flights, accumulating more than 17 hours of flight time. This marks the first instance of using machine learning to control a fighter jet. While flying, the AI algorithm on the jet examines data and makes instant decisions, a method known as machine learning. This mimics how fighter pilots develop their instincts through years of practice. Carrying out a dogfight between an AI-powered jet and a human marks a “transformational moment in aerospace history”, DARPA said in a statement. #AI #dogfight #usairforce #usa #usmilitary

Pentagon takes AI dogfighting to next level in real-world flight tests against human F-16 pilot This is the one big step to the next level of weaponizing #AI. Potentially the 7th generation fighters will be „just“ a smart network of unmanned systems. If this gets #unlimited will not be a „giant leap“ for the mankind. #Technology is #good if is used peacefully. In any case a development that worth a closer look. https://lnkd.in/g9bdKbUp

An #AI-controlled fighter jet successfully engaged in a "dogfight" against a human-piloted #F16. The Pentagon's test, conducted last year, was described as the "first-ever use of #machinelearning-based autonomy in flight-critical systems." After performing simulations, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the United States Air Force tested the "AI pilot" at California's Edwards Air Force Base in September. The AI system was installed on an X-62A VISTA. The jet successfully performed in-air maneuvers during the simulated dogfight against the human-controlled F-16. Human pilots onboard the X-62A, capable of disabling the AI, never had to engage the safety switch during the test. Both planes executed defensive and offensive maneuvers, including close "nose-to-nose engagements," bringing them within 2,000 feet at speeds of 1,200 mph. DARPA, the #Pentagon's R&D agency, has completed 21 test flights, with plans to continue testing through 2024. #artificialintelligence

The United States Air Force has successfully used AI to pilot a jet aircraft. This reminds me of the beginning of Top Gun 2, when an drone-obsessed Admiral is looking to push Maverick and other human pilots out for good, and usher in the new era of drone/AI pilots. As seen in the current war in Ukraine, drones are how modern wars are fought. Once I see an F-35 successfully piloted by AI, I will be officially sold. #ai #USAF

The Future of Air Combat is Here: US Air Force Stages First AI vs. Human Dogfight Exciting news from the world of defense and technology! The US Air Force, in collaboration with DARPA's Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, successfully conducted the first-ever dogfight between a human-piloted F-16 and a fighter jet controlled entirely by AI! This groundbreaking test, which took place in September 2023 at Edwards Air Force Base, marks a significant step towards the potential use of AI for autonomous drone wingmen in future air combat scenarios. While details of the "winner" remain undisclosed, the successful completion of the test itself is a major milestone. The AI piloting the F-16 variant, the X-62A VISTA, relied on algorithms trained on historical combat data. This achievement builds upon previous triumphs where AI agents dominated virtual dogfights, but this real-world test signifies a major leap forward! #AI #AirForce #FutureofWarfare #Technology #DARPA #Innovation

🦆 Maverick and AI-Goose Maverick and Goose, but make Goose an AI bot. That’s what an Air Force program and the Pentagon are trying to do as they embrace this rapidly emerging AI technology. XQ-58A Valkyrie, the experimental aircraft developed by the US Air Force powered by AI, is poised to revolutionize air warfare, bolstering the USAF’s capabilities. With a price tag as low as $3 million apiece—compared to an $80 million F-35—the "affordable mass" program is about using AI-enhanced drones to complement traditional fighters. Follow me for more content! #ai #datascience