Friday, May 3, a historic event happened in the US Air Force as US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall rode an artificial intelligence-controlled F-16 heading off Edwards Air Force Base.
At the US Senate Appropriations Committee's military conference in April, Secretary Kendall, a visionary leader, unveiled his daring plan to fly in an AI-controlled fighter jet. He declared that the program was advancing rapidly and that he, along with a backup pilot, would be the first 'test non-pilots' in one of these advanced aircraft.
The top Air Force commander carried out his plans. The Air Force has made a strong push into AI, representing one of the most significant developments in military aviation since the advent of stealth in the early 1990s. The service is preparing for an AI-enabled fleet of over 1,000 autonomous warplanes, the first of which will be in operation by 2028, even though the technology is not yet completely matured.
(Photo : KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images) A Belgian F-16 jet fighter takes part in the NATO Air Nuclear drill "Steadfast Noon" (its regular nuclear deterrence exercise) at the Kleine-Brogel air base in Belgium on October 18, 2022.
The Associated Press and NBC were given an opportunity to witness the secret flight with the agreement that neither would report on the matter until the flight was complete due to security concerns.
Here's AP's video witnessing a historic ride:
To witness and experience AI flying in real time, Kendall took a plane to Edwards Air Force Base, the exact desert location where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier.
With an AI-controlled F-16 named Vista, Kendall reportedly performed quick maneuvers at over 550 miles per hour, applying pressure to his body that was five times greater than the force of gravity. It raced within 1,000 feet of another human-piloted F-16, going nearly nose-to-nose as both aircraft looped and twisted in an attempt to push their adversary into weak spots.
After the one-hour trip, Kendall emerged from the cockpit beaming. He claimed to have seen enough during his flight to be confident in this AI's ability to make decisions about using force in combat.
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First-Ever AI vs. Human Dogfight
Early in April, the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) unveiled a video of the first-ever demonstration of an unmanned, AI-controlled F-16 aircraft practicing multiple aerial combat scenarios against a human pilot. This is another testament to how AI is continuously making strides in the military.
The US Air Force revealed that the video was shot in September of last year at Edwards Air Force Base in California, showing a duel between two F-16 aircraft.
The two aircraft flew up to 1,200 miles per hour, performing aggressive and protective maneuvers, dogfighting, and battle within visual range. At one point, they were separated by only around 2,000 feet (610 meters). DARPA released a video of the nose-to-nose aerial combat, which showed the two aircraft flying through the sky, orbiting about and in each other.
Pentagon's AI Plans
The Pentagon said in March that it sought to create new AI-guided aircraft and made two contracts available for commercial companies to bid against one another to win.
As part of a $6 billion effort that encompasses the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) project, the Air Force will get at least 1,000 new drones, The drones can deploy alongside human-piloted jets to provide cover, and they are meant to be fully functional escorts equipped with weapons. Sources also suggest that the drones might serve as communication centers or scouts.
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