Summary: The U.S. Air Force is advancing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities within its ranks by incorporating AI pilots into F-16 combat aircraft as part of DARPA's Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program. Over the past year, an AI-controlled F-16, designated X-62 VISTA, participated in 21 air combat exercises against human pilots. These tests demonstrated significant advancements in AI's ability to handle complex aerial maneuvers and dogfights, culminating in a face-off against a human-piloted F-16. The project aims to integrate AI pilots into next-generation combat scenarios, enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making in high-stakes environments.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Air Force revealed that its ongoing effort to field artificial intelligence (AI) pilots for combat aircraft has already seen AI-piloted F-16s take on their human counterparts in complex air-combat exercises. This effort is part of DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, and is seen as an essential step toward equipping forthcoming 6th-generation fighters with AI-enabled drone wingmen.

These drills, which took place over the past 12 months, saw artificial intelligence take the stick of a heavily modified Block 30 F-16D known as the X-62 VISTA throughout a series of 21 increasingly complex operations, with rapid changes made to the coding of the AI “agent” piloting the aircraft between each bout. After logging more than 100,000 code changes to the AI’s flight-critical software over the course of the year, the AI agent was made ready to take on a human pilot in an opposing F-16 in what the Air Force described as “highly complex dogfights.”

“The potential for autonomous air-to-air combat has been imaginable for decades, but the reality has remained a distant dream up until now. In 2023, the X-62A broke one of the most significant barriers in combat aviation. This is a transformational moment, all made possible by breakthrough accomplishments of the X-62A ACE team,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.

The AI agent in control of the X-62 started by learning defensive maneuvers, before eventually moving on to offensive ones, and finally, offensive high-aspect nose-to-nose engagements........

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