THE United States has finally started to seek answers to one of the most asked questions on the planet – who wins between man and machine?
Incredible details have emerged of the world’s first ever AI controlled warplane taking on a human piloted jet in a historic dogfight that saw both aircraft blasting through the sky at speeds of 1,200mph.
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The insane test saw an AI powered modified F-16 – dubbed the X-62A – take on the same jet but with a human in the cockpit.
Both powerful jets went “nose-to-nose” as they battled 2,000ft up in the air, say officials.
The tests were conducted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) alongside the US Air Force to learn about just how advanced artificial intelligence really is.
Results of the intense air battles have been kept tightly under wraps but they were done to show how safe and effective autonomous fighter jets could be.
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Officials were also intrigued to see how close AI powered military jets are to operating safely in a complex war environment.
In the end, 21 test flights were done for the project taking place between December 2022 and September 2023.
Lt. Col. Maryann Karlen, deputy commandant of the test pilot school, explained how it all worked in a fascinating video on the historic dogfight.
They said: “In September we actually took the X-62 and flew it against a live manned F-16.
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“We built up in safety using the manoeuvres – first defensive, then offensive, then high aspect nose-to-nose engagements where we got as close as 2,000 feet at 1,200 miles per hour.”
THE AI FIGHTER JETS
A few years ago, DARPA put on “AlphaDogFight Trials” that saw the AI generated algorithms go up against military aviators in a sequence of computer simulated battles.
The revolutionary AI jets went undefeated across every test.
Ever since that resounding success the agency’s program has evolved to include real jets.
They chose military F-16 training vehicles known as the X-62A Variable In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA) and put machine taught AI algorithms to the ultimate test in the skies.
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Soaring over Edwards Air Force Base in California, the AI jets began their training program by doing simple flight path tests.
Col. James Valpiana, commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School, said: “Beginning in December of 2022, that was the first application of machine learning agents to control the flight path of fighter aircraft.”
Since then, the algorithm went through 100,000 lines of flight-critical software adaptations to maximise and improve the tools.
The X-62A team demonstrated that cutting-edge machine learning based autonomy could be safely used to fly dynamic combat manoeuvres
DARPA press release
A press release after the findings were analysed said: “The X-62A team demonstrated that cutting-edge machine learning based autonomy could be safely used to fly dynamic combat manoeuvres.
“The team pioneered new methods to train and test AI agent compliance with safety requirements, including flight envelope protection and aerial/ground collision avoidance.
“As well as with ethical requirements including combat training rules, weapons engagement zones, and clear avenues of fire.
Secretary of the US Air Force Frank Kendall labelled the tests as “transformational”.
Kendall has told lawmakers that he plans on hopping inside an autonomous F-16 this year.
To ensure complete safety in the skies there were humans on board the AI powered jets.
AI will be able to do much more complicated things, much more accurately and much faster than human beings can
Frank Kendall
Although officials said they never had to activate the human control panels during the dogfights.
The US plans on pumping billions into constantly improving and monitoring the initiative in the coming years.
Kendall has previously praised the use of AI in war saying: “The critical problem on the battlefield is time.
“AI will be able to do much more complicated things, much more accurately and much faster than human beings can.
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“The best pilot you’re ever going to find is going to take a few tenths of a second to do something.
“The AI is going to do it in a microsecond.”
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