Nicolas Gaudilliere’s Post

A major milestone has been announced in the evolving world of aerial combat -- the world's first example of an AI-piloted fighter jet engaging in dogfights against a human pilot! These dogfights have been part of a series of trials at Edwards Air Force Base, and while they are, of course, simulated engagements, the AI jet's performance has been described as nothing short of "impressive." Naturally, officials kept the description of the technology's performance vague, declining to reveal specific information such as the jet's win/loss ratio for "national security" reasons. The jets used were two F-16 Fighting Falcons, with the bespoke AI-controlled jet known as the Variable In-Flight Simulator Aircraft, or VISTA. However, the VISTA still contained a pilot for safety reasons -- although the integrated AI did the flying. While this is an incredible feat for air-to-air combat applications, the reality is that this accomplishment is a means to a greater end: laying a foundation of trust in autonomous flying in all applications. Restricted at this time by the lack of a pathway for an autonomous aircraft to achieve flight certification due to skepticism of machine learning, this example serves as evidence for a much greater future in aerial autonomy! Read more below: https://lnkd.in/gJpBiSms #airforce #military #ai #machinelearning #aviation

The U.S. Air Force on Wednesday publicly confirmed the first successful dogfight between a fighter jet piloted by artificial intelligence (AI) and a human-piloted aircraft. The AI-versus-human dogfight was carried out as part of the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched in 2019. The Air Force conducted the AI dogfights at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the home base of the 412th Test Wing. The dogfight pitted a manned F-16 against the X-62A VISTA (Variable In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft), an experimental variant of the F-16, and leveraged live AI agents that were installed in the X-62A less than a year before. "The potential for autonomous air-to-air combat has been imaginable for decades, but the reality has remained a distant dream up until now," Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said in a press release. "In 2023, the X-62A broke one of the most significant barriers in combat aviation. This is a transformational moment, all made possible by breakthrough accomplishments of the X-62A ACE team." As an initial part of the test, the Air Force explained that flight safety was established using defensive maneuvers before they progressed into "offensive high-aspect nose-to-nose engagements where the dogfighting aircraft got as close as 2,000 feet at 1,200 miles per hour." The release from the Air Force and DARPA didn't disclose whether the AI or human aircraft prevailed in the dogfight. Traditional autonomous control of aircraft has been executed for decades, but the Air Force explained that machine learning has historically been prohibited due to high risk and a lack of independent control. Across 21 test flights, the Air Force said teams involved with the test made more than 100,000 lines of flight-critical software changes. Test pilots were on board the X-62A and had the ability to disengage the AI, but they didn't need to activate the safety switch at any time during the dogfights over the Edwards test range, the Air Force said. Lt. Col. Ryan Hefron, ACE program manager for DARPA, said, "We have to be able to trust these algorithms to use them in a real-world setting." "The first-ever use of machine-learning-based autonomy in flight-critical systems will serve as a foundation for future aerospace AI advances that are both safer and more reliable in both commercial and defense applications," the Air Force wrote. DARPA and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School will continue to advance testing with machine learning, with the X-62A VISTA serving a variety of research customers and providing academic lessons for future tests and programs. The Air Force noted that the ACE program involves collaboration between a variety of partners from government, private industry and academia. (Credit: Fox Business) #AI #dogfight #usairforce #usa #usmilitary #darpa

Pinging my UAS network. Have an idea or design for a long-range one-way-attack (OWA) munition? The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) wants to hear from you. "The DoD is seeking commercial solutions for ground-launched, one-way UAS platforms that can operate at ranges from 50-300 km+, launch quickly and expeditiously, navigate at low altitudes, carry a variety of payloads, and operate beyond line of sight in disrupted, disconnected, intermittent and low-bandwidth (DDIL) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denied environments."   https://lnkd.in/g8m7pi7y

The beginning of the future of Air Power

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

Real Jets, Real Autonomy.   In a groundbreaking series of tests this July, Shield AI, alongside partners Kratos Defense and Security Solutions and Parry Labs, demonstrated the future of air combat. High-performance, autonomously controlled MQM-178 Firejet drones flew alongside human-piloted jets in tightly confined airspace, collaboratively executing complex maneuvers with precision. "When you have two unmanned jet aircraft flying alongside manned jets, trust in your AI wingman takes on a whole different meaning.” Read all about it: https://lnkd.in/eutFuaXK Autonomy for the world. The greatest victory requires no war. #AI #AutonomousJets #DefenseTechnology #Aviation #aircombat

The FX-6, FX-5, and FX-1 are three captivating additions to the Future Fighter eXperimental (FX) program, each showcasing a distinctive vision for the future of aerial warfare. Developed by top aerospace manufacturers, these aircraft epitomize the latest strides in technology, design, and combat prowess, promising to transform the dynamics of air superiority on the battlefield. Crafted by a coalition of industry leaders, the FX-6 emerges as a sixth-generation fighter jet that pushes boundaries in performance and innovation. Boasting advanced stealth capabilities, unparalleled speed, and cutting-edge sensor systems, the FX-6 establishes a new benchmark for aerial dominance. Its network-centric abilities seamlessly integrate into joint operations, enhancing pilots' situational awareness and decision-making capabilities. On another front, the FX-5, conceived by another prominent aerospace developer, delivers a potent blend of agility, firepower, and survivability. Featuring advanced aerodynamics and next-gen propulsion, the FX-5 excels in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, offering unmatched versatility and combat effectiveness. Lastly, the FX-1 represents a significant stride in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. Designed for autonomous operation or in tandem with manned aircraft, the FX-1 harnesses artificial intelligence and advanced sensor fusion for a diverse array of missions—from reconnaissance and surveillance to precision strikes and electronic warfare. Together, the FX-6, FX-5, and FX-1 embody the future of aerial combat, leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovation to ensure air superiority in today's complex and contested battle environments. With their exceptional capabilities and adaptability, these aircraft are poised to shape the trajectory of military aviation for years to come.

Never before have we seen a more critical requirement to have NDAA-compliant, multi-payload sUAS capable of delivering lethal and non-lethal effects in contested AORs or a "Hellscape" scenario. PDW has been leaning forward to collaborate with both government and industry partners to test and integrate cost-effective kinetic payloads for such use cases. This is one of many ways PDW is leading the charge in the NDAA-compliant, Blue UAS space to ensure our warfighters and allies are prepared to deter future conflict. https://okt.to/TRNvst #UAS #BlueUAS #C100

“The uncrewed aircraft could execute a variety of assignments: conducting reconnaissance, gathering intelligence, jamming signals, serving as decoys and striking targets with their own missiles. Officials have said CCAs could range in cost and complexity, with some being expensive and precious while others could be easily sacrificed in combat. “If I’m flying around in my fighter, I can imagine a world where I have multiple drones able to conduct some missions,” Hamilton said. “The key, though, is we’ve got to get the human-machine teaming right. It’s all about that. AI and this autonomy — it’s got to empower the decision-maker.” #ai #dronetechnology #airforce #emergingtech #defensetech https://lnkd.in/g_zXyhUW

Never before have we seen a more critical requirement to have NDAA-compliant, multi-payload sUAS capable of delivering lethal and non-lethal effects in contested AORs or a "Hellscape" scenario. PDW has been leaning forward to collaborate with both government and industry partners to test and integrate cost-effective kinetic payloads for such use cases. This is one of many ways PDW is leading the charge in the NDAA-compliant, Blue UAS space to ensure our warfighters and allies are prepared to deter future conflict. https://okt.to/nyLKxk #UAS #BlueUAS #C100