“We conducted multiple sorties with numerous test points performed on each sortie to test the algorithms under varying starting conditions, against various simulated adversaries, and with simulated weapons capabilities,” said Air Force Lt. The enemy fighters existed only within the digital realm, but the AI agent and its fighter flew against them as though they were just as real as any other.
#Airforce fighter pilot series
Over the course of about two weeks, the X-62A flew against a variety of simulated opponents in a series of one-on-one engagements held both within and beyond visual range. Related: F-16XL: Why America didn’t get the best F-16 AI enters the chat… and the dogfight Related: More than missing guns: Why America lost dogfights over Vietnam In other words, to make dogfights survivable for drone aircraft, it’s time to let the drones do some of the thinking for themselves. While there are a number of efforts underway to offset this technical hurdle, the most promising comes in the form of artificial intelligence. In a dogfight, three seconds to react is about two and a half more than you usually get. As a result, it’s not unusual for there to be a three-or-more seconds lag between a threat presenting itself to the Reaper’s sensors and the aircraft actually responding to it. Based on what he sees, he makes a decision and inputs a response, followed by another 1.2 seconds of transit time as the command is relayed back. The pilot told me that it takes approximately 1.2 seconds for the Reaper’s signal to reach him. “ opposed to a multi-targeting display that’s maybe six inches across by a pilot’s knee in most aircraft, we have unparalleled ability to see and locate targets,” he told me.īut all this high-definition data comes at a high price: lag. Reaper crews could be flying over Syria on Monday, Iraq on Tuesday, and Afghanistan on Wednesday if operational requirements pressed the need.
It also allows skilled crews to be anywhere in the world that they’re needed, with Reapers and support equipment arriving in theater via cargo aircraft like C-130s and control relayed back to Missouri, regardless of theater. This approach allows the United States to maintain a persistent presence over target areas, gathering intelligence or engaging targets on the ground as called upon by higher command. These crews, made up of one licensed pilot and an enlisted sensor operator, take shifts operating their slow-moving RPAs, ensuring there are always fresh eyes on the screens and fresh hands on the stick. Both Predators and Reapers have ground crews that directly manage takeoffs and landings via line-of-sight antennae, before transferring control over to two-person crews out of Whiteman Air Force Base in Johnson County, Missouri once on the prowl. But for all the incredible capability these aircraft bring with them into the fight, they remain reliant on direct human operation.
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