The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (USAF TPS) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have achieved a significant milestone in the field of aerospace machine learning. Their collaborative Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program successfully demonstrated autonomous dogfighting maneuvers using an AI-powered system onboard a modified F-16 aircraft, the X-62A VISTA.
In September 2023, the ACE program achieved a world first by flying the X-62A VISTA against a live, manned F-16 fighter jet in a simulated dogfight. The test carefully built up safety by initially focusing on defensive maneuvers. The complexity then increased to offensive maneuvers, culminating in high-aspect nose-to-nose engagements where the aircraft were as close as 2,000 feet apart while traveling at 1,200 miles per hour. This accomplishment signifies a major leap forward for the application of machine learning in flight-critical aerospace systems.
The X-62A VISTA served as the testbed for integrating and testing live AI agents. The system utilized non-deterministic algorithms, allowing it to adapt and make real-time decisions within the dynamic environment of a dogfight.
Safety remained paramount throughout the program. The X-62A flew with onboard safety pilots capable of disengaging the AI if needed. Testing commenced with defensive maneuvers, gradually progressing to high-risk, close-quarters dogfighting simulations. Over 100,000 lines of flight-critical software modifications were implemented across 21 test flights.
While dogfighting provided a challenging test case, it’s not the program’s ultimate goal. The success of ACE paves the way for broader applications of AI in various aerospace sectors, including both commercial and defense operations.
The learnings from the ACE program will be instrumental in developing future AI-powered systems for aerospace applications. The X-62A VISTA will continue to serve as a valuable research platform, while also training the next generation of test pilots equipped to handle AI integration in aviation.
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In my 5,000 hours of flight time in 65 different types of jets, props, helos, blimps, sailplanes and amphibians I have never heard the term “ethical norms”. It seems wokeness has infiltrated the flight test community.