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In a groundbreaking test, the US military pitted a manned jet against an AI-controlled F-16, marking a significant milestone in the development of autonomous warfare technology. The AI-controlled F-16D X-62A, also known as the Variable-stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA), engaged in an in-air dogfight with a manned jet last year.
The test, which was recently disclosed by the US Air Force and the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), showcased the potential of machine learning to revolutionize aerial combat. The experiment is part of DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, launched in December 2022, aimed at developing an AI system capable of autonomously flying fighter jets.
During the September 2023 dogfight, humans were onboard the AI-controlled F-16 with the ability to override the AI, but the kill switch was not activated “at any point.” Both aircraft engaged in high-speed nose-to-nose maneuvers, approaching as close as 2,000 feet at speeds of 1,200 miles per hour.
Bill Gray, chief test pilot at the Air Force’s Test Pilot School, emphasized the significance of the test, stating, “Dogfighting was the problem to solve so we could start testing autonomous artificial intelligence systems in the air. Every lesson we’re learning applies to every task you could give to an autonomous system.”
The ACE program has conducted 21 test flights since its inception, resulting in over 100,000 lines of flight-critical software changes, according to Newsweek. Frank Kendall, secretary of the US Air Force, revealed plans to launch “an autonomously flown F-16 later this year,” where a pilot will simply monitor the technology in action. “Hopefully, neither he nor I will be needed to fly the airplane,” Kendall added.
While the outcome of the dogfight was not disclosed, the test underscores the US military’s commitment to advancing AI technologies for future warfare applications.
