US Creates Breakthrough Artificial Intelligence Technology for Fighter Jets

Piloting AI fighter jets is considered a revolution. On the other hand, this program means that AI holds weapons that can kill humans.

AP/DAMIAN DOVARGANES

The X-62A Vista aircraft, a United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet equipped with artificial intelligence, took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California, USA.

EDWARDS, SATURDAY – The United States Air Force is breaking new ground in the involvement of artificial intelligence in weapons. Trials of the technology as a controller for the F-16 fighter jet continue to be matured. Washington plans to build 1,000 artificial intelligence-controlled fighter planes.

Reported by the Associated Press on Saturday (4/5/2024), the Director General of the Air Force at the US Department of Defense Frank Kendall boarded one of the F-16s. For security reasons, Kendall's flight time was not revealed. It is only stated that Kendall got off at Edwards Air Force Base in California after boarding a plane controlled by artificial intelligence or artificial intelligence (AI).

Also read: Two F-16 Planes Chase “Stray” Plane Entering Washington DC

He boarded an aircraft called the Variable in-flight Simulator Aircraft (Vista). Kendall climbed aboard Vista after the program began flight testing in December 2022.

He wants to see and feel the ability of AI in controlling one of the best-selling fighter jets. After flying for an hour, he is convinced about the role of AI in future air combat. "There is a security risk if we don't have it. At this point, we must have it," he said.

AP/DAMIAN DOVARGANES

Director General of the United States Air Force, Frank Kendall (right), after testing an F-16 jet equipped with artificial intelligence at Andrews Air Force Base, California, on May 2, 2024.

The Kendall aircraft participated in an air combat simulation with a human-piloted F-16. Kendall is confident that in battle, an AI controller is capable of deciding when to shoot. This is based on the jet's ability to engage in maneuvering and pursuit with a human-controlled aircraft.

On the other hand, Kendall mentioned that there will always be people behind AI. These people will oversee AI's decisions on whether to shoot or not.

Also read: Unmanned Aircraft Are Increasingly Warning

There are considerations of security, budget, and strategy regarding the use of AI as a fighter jet pilot. The current air force, which relies on human beings, would be very expensive and dangerous. Currently, the US Air Force, among others, has difficulty maintaining the operation of the F-35. The state-of-the-art US fighter jets require 1.7 trillion US dollars.

However, funding is needed for other programs. Electronic warfare, the use of air and space defense, and targeting techniques require large amounts of money while also endangering humans. On the other hand, the US admitted to being left behind by China in terms of unmanned vehicles.

AP/DAMIAN DOVARGANES

United States Air Force technicians inspect the X-62A, an F-16 jet equipped with artificial intelligence, at Andrews Air Base, California, USA.

In future US wartime scenarios, the use of unmanned vehicles for surveillance of targets will provide tactical advantages. Smaller and cheaper vehicles controlled by AI will be the future.

Big progress

The use of AI as a pilot is one of the major advances in US military aviation. Although the testing series is still ongoing, the US plans to produce 1,000 fighter jets controlled by AI.

Also read: Iran's Unmanned Aircraft Development Tracks

Operator Vista claims that no other country has similar technology. Vista is a software that learns from millions of data inputs. Based on that learning, Vista tests its abilities in field simulations with actual planes. The results of the simulation are then studied for further improvements.

So far, at least 24 simulations have been conducted with a real plane. From each simulation, the Air Force claims there has been an improvement. In fact, Vista is claimed to have beaten human pilots.

AFP/GIUSEPPE CACACE

A UAE F-16 fighter jet flew during the Dubai Airshow 2023 at the Dubai World Central, Al-Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, on Monday (11/13/2023).

A number of parties have criticized the idea of AI pilots in fighter jets, including weapon control experts and humanitarian groups. They are concerned that in the future, AI may make independent decisions to drop bombs.

This means that AI pilots will be able to kill people without consulting humans first. Therefore, some parties are trying to limit the use of AI pilots.

"There is widespread and serious concern about the delegation of life and death decisions to sensors and software. Autonomous weapons pose concerns and require urgent international political responses," warns the International Red Cross Committee. (AP)