of U.S. Army The first-ever aerial test between a pilot and an AI-controlled fighter jet was conducted.
During a training exercise at Edwards Air Force Base in California, F-16 jets flew “nose-to-nose” at close to 600 meters and reached speeds of 1,200 miles per hour.
The improved AI jet, called the X-62A, or VISTA (Variable In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft), will analyze historical data and make decisions in real time, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which conducted the test. That's what it means. .
This process, known as “machine learning,” has been tested in simulators for years, but has never been taken to the skies for combat.
The X-62A is flown by a safety pilot with the ability to disable AI.
But DARPA said there was no need to activate the safety switch at any point during the dogfight.
“We have to be able to trust these algorithms in order to use them in real-world environments,” said Lt. Ryan Heffron, DARPA program manager.
“Air combat was a problem to solve in order to be able to start testing autonomous artificial intelligence systems in the air. That's true,” said Bill Gray, chief test pilot for the U.S. Air Force. He said.
The US Air Force did not say which aircraft won the dogfight.
Want expert explanations on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts and find out what you need to know…
