An AI-controlled F-16 fighter jet participated in its first air combat against another F-16 piloted by a human.
Air combat exercise between the X-62A aircraft and the piloted aircraft. (Video: DARPA)
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) shared footage of the exercise that took place last September at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, as reported by New Atlas on April 22. This is part of DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program.
To create an automated control system with capabilities comparable to human pilots, DARPA initiated the ACE program using the X-62A, also known as the Variable In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA). This aircraft is based on Lockheed Martin’s F-16D fighter jet, equipped with Block 40 avionics and various modifications to allow for AI integration. The vehicle has demonstrated the ability to fly for hours without a human operator, but the U.S. Air Force’s goals do not stop there.
The ACE program aims to use machine learning as a human alternative. In this context, AI can adjust its behavior based on historical data and experiences within interactive systems. This could be particularly useful in dynamic situations with unclear rules and unpredictable outcomes. Although air combat may not resemble modern warfare, it is an effective way to test AI, as such battles are highly complex and unpredictable. It requires AI to adhere to regulations designed for pilot training. Air combat exercises at an altitude of 600 meters and a speed of 1,900 km/h necessitate strict safety regulations due to the high costs and potential chaos if fighter jets collide or crash into bridges or buildings.
Ongoing air combat trials this year will assist in refining AI, establishing ethical foundations for using such systems, and researching methods to measure and predict human trust in AI. While AI operates the X-62A, a pilot is always present in the cockpit to ensure safety. To date, the program has generated over 100,000 lines of critical software changes across 21 test flights.
If successful, ACE could lead to the development of AI systems that elevate pilots to mission command roles, overseeing more critical aspects of their duties while AI handles flying and engaging in combat.
