Air Combat Evolution

2023: Building an AI to control a fighter

On February 13, 2023, the US Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced a successful experiment to use [[artificial intelligence to control an F-16 fighter as part of the Air Combat Evolution program.

As stated in DARPA, the modified F-16 fighter flew more than 17 hours under the control of AI. The US military successfully allowed AI to control the fighter and even fight a mock enemy aircraft during a series of flight tests. This experiment was a significant step for the Department of Defense in developing advanced AI capabilities.

VISTA Test Fighter

The AI algorithm developed by DARPA as part of the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program began to be tested in December 2022. A flight test jet (VISTA) took off from the United States Air Force base in Edwards, which is located in California, about 30 km from the cities of Lancaster and Rosemead.

We conducted multiple sorties with numerous test points performed in each sortie to test algorithms in different initial conditions. The tests were against various opponents and with the possibility of using various kinds of weapons. VISTA will allow us to develop and test advanced AI methods in parallel with updated unmanned vehicle designs, "said ACE Program Manager Ryan Hefron.

The VISTA aircraft is a modified F-16D Block 30 Peace Marble II fighter jet that began development in 2019 alongside the ACE launch. The February 2023 test was the first in world history to test AI to control a tactical aircraft.

At the end of 2019, the US Department of Defense published a summary of the AI strategy. The US military noted that in order to maintain a strategic position and superiority, the United States should also adopt AI. To do this, the Pentagon plans to attract scientists, private companies, as well as governments of allied states. The Ministry of Defense also spoke about the lag in testing and evaluating new weapons and military technologies.^[1]

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