Whichever way you turn, there’s no escaping Artificial Intelligence (AI) right now.
And now, the US Air Force is integrating AI into its fighter jets.
So far, the USAF has conducted 12 successful AI-led test flights.
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Those test flights are part of its ‘Skyborg’ program, which aims to develop unmanned jets.
Apparently, the end goal is to augment human pilots with AI, not replace them.
Clearly, the US Air Force believes the use of AI in aerial combat represents the future.
It brings with it several potential benefits, including enhancing pilot capabilities and improving safety measures.
The Skyborg test flights have been conducted using a training aircraft called VISTA X-62A.
VISTA is a modified F-16 fighter jet upgraded with Block 40 avionics, allowing for flight-testing of digital aircraft designs before the construction of the aircraft.
VISTA has been fitted with software that allows it to mimic the performance characteristics of other aircraft.
The modified VISTA X-62A aircraft has a length of 48ft 7in (14.8m), a height of 15ft 9in (4.8m), and a wingspan of 32ft 2in (9.8m).
It was developed by Lockheed Martin and Calspan for the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
The aircraft is already playing a key part in the acceleration of the development of AI and tactical autonomy capabilities for the USAF.
Test flights have been taking place for serveral months now, including a 17-plus hour flight by an AI agent, the first time AI was used to operate a tactical aircraft.
AI agents perform one-on-one beyond-visual-range (BVR), simulate enemy engagements, whilst also conducting dogfighting exercises against constructive AI red-team agents.
The Air Force says tactical maneuvers are performed autonomously while respecting the airspace boundaries of the real world.
