The world’s first known combat between a human pilot and an AI-controlled fighter jet took place in California, the US military said.
In an exercise over Edwards Air Force Base, the pair of F-16 fighters flew at speeds of up to 1,900 km/h and reached 600 meters during aerial combat, also known as dogfighting.
One was manned, while the other jet was a modified version of the F-16, called the X-62A, or VISTA (variable flight simulator test aircraft).
The AI-controlled plane in action. Photo: Kyle Brasier/USAF
During the flight, the AI The algorithm relies on analyzing historical data to make decisions for present and future situations, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which performed the test.
This process is called “machine learning” and has been tested for years in field simulators, said DARPA, a research and development agency within the US Department of Defense.
In 2020, so-called “AI agents” defeated human pilots in simulations in all five clashes – but the technology needed to be actually executed in the air.
The pilots were aboard the X-62A in case of emergency, but did not need to reverse controls at any point during the aerial combat test, which took place in September last year and was announced this week.
The result represents a “transformational moment in aerospace history,” DARPA said in a statement.
It was not revealed which aircraft won the duel.
The two planes close to each other during the exercise. Photo: DARPA/YouTube
“The potential for autonomous air-to-air combat has been imaginable for decades, but the reality has remained a distant dream until now, said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.
“In 2023, the X-62A broke one of the most significant barriers in combat aviation. This is a transformative moment, all made possible by the revolutionary achievements of the X-62A ACE team.”
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Colonel James Valpiani, commander of the U.S. Air Force test pilot school. said: “Dogfighting is a perfect case for the application – machine learning.
“Dogfighting is extremely dangerous. So if machine learning can operate effectively in such a dangerous environment as air-to-air combat, it has great potential to gain the trust of humans as we look at applications that are less dangerous, but equally complex.”
He added: “The X-62A is an incredible platform, not only for research and advancing the state of testing, but also for preparing the next generation of test leaders.
“By ensuring the capability in front of it is safe, efficient, effective and responsible, the industry can consider the results of what the X-62A ACE team has done to be a paradigm shift.
“We have fundamentally changed the conversation by showing that this can be done safely and responsibly.”
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