Battlefield AI

Air Force, DARPA Test Artificial Intelligence in Air Combat

The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency are working to test the possibility of using artificial intelligence algorithms in air combat.

Through the 2023 Robert J. Collier Trophy, the two organizations are using an X-62A VISTA aircraft from the DARPA Air Combat Evolution program to assess the viability of using AI through dogfights. Since the initial installation of live AI agents, the teams have made extensive flight software revisions after dozens of test flights, the Air Force said.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, a 2024 Wash100 winner and past Potomac Officers Club speaker, said that the AI-powered aircraft is showcasing the potential of autonomous air-to-air combat, years after it was thought to be an impossible achievement.

The military branch has been exploring ways to make the most of AI. In January, it awarded Unanimous AI a contract to develop an AI-enabled solution to gather real-time intelligence while networked groups of senior officials are engaged in a conversion.

The Air Force is also testing the effectiveness of AI-powered platforms in wargames to better assess their effectiveness on the battlefield.