The US Air Force has successfully tested an AI fighter jet in combat with a live pilot

The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, in conjunction with the DARPA agency, has begun testing Lockheed Martin’s X-62 VISTA prototype aircraft equipped with artificial intelligence software that allows it to mimic the flight characteristics of other aircraft.

Last September, the X-62A conducted its first aerial combat against a manned F-16 fighter. According to the test program, the fighter jets met in a counter combat. The results of the duel are not reported.

The X-62A had an alternate pilot and a technician in the cockpit to control the AI so that it could be shut down in an emergency and take control. A series of 21 experimental fights were conducted and will continue into 2024. In addition to autonomous flight systems, the X-62A can be equipped with a compact camera for scientific research, reconnaissance, environmental monitoring and emergency response.

Will AI eventually be able to replace fighter pilots? The question is far from idle. Four years ago, thanks to the AlphaDogfight program, three-day competitions (i.e. training air battles) were organized between F-16 pilots and AI, which ended in favor of the latter with a dry score of 5-0. As the analysis showed, the machine acted more aggressively and accurately than a human, which guaranteed its victory.