The introduction of artificial intelligence into the control of combat aircraft is already one step closer to reality. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the US Department of Defense announced the successful conduct of virtual dogfights with the participation of two F-16 fighters, which, under the control of AI algorithms, acted in team against a common enemy.
It was an experiment in the ACE (Air Combat Evolution) program aimed at exploring how artificial intelligence and machine learning can help automate various aspects of air combat. Ultimately, the researchers want to create an autonomous AI system for combat drones for combined human and machine actions.
Simulated air battles took place in February this year. Using a simulation environment developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), a neural network algorithm called Scrimmage 1 demonstrated a two-on-one collision. Two F-16 fighters controlled by artificial intelligence fought against one enemy F-16. These were the first tests of this kind; before that, APL conducted virtual one-on-one man-against-machine air battles. Then the person lost with a score of 5: 0, which was a convincing demonstration of the potential of artificial intelligence.
This time, Scrimmage 1 was given the opportunity to fight from a distance and hit the target with missiles. This scenario, in addition to increasing the number of aircraft, introduced many dynamic characteristics that were impossible to study during previous tests. The AI’s ability to work as a team is critical to establishing the trust of human pilots in AI.
This is only the first phase of the test program. In the future, the researchers intend to move from modeling to real actions and carry out an air battle with the participation of a real aircraft. The second phase is scheduled for the end of this year, and the third is scheduled for 2023-2024. In the meantime, test flights are already underway on a real L-39 Albatros aircraft, controlled by AI. Once this concept is validated, DARPA is set to implement the technology into aircraft that will provide greater autonomy for combat while the human pilot will focus on aircraft control.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
