TechAI vs Pilot: Historic Dogfight over California Shakes Up Military Aviation

AI vs Pilot: Historic Dogfight over California Shakes Up Military Aviation

For the first time, such an encounter has unfolded. Sky TV reported on Friday, April 19th, referencing the Agency for Advanced Defense Projects (DARPA), that the United States Army conducted an exercise where a human-piloted aircraft engaged with a machine controlled by artificial intelligence (AI).

American F-16 (illustrative photo)
American F-16 (illustrative photo)
Images source: © Pixabay

2:04 PM EDT, April 20, 2024

Two F-16 planes clashed over the Edwards Air Force Base in California, achieving speeds of about 1,243 mph, typical for combat situations.

Officer James Valpiani, who trains US Air Force pilots, noted that competing in these conditions is an outstanding way to assess the technology.

The AI-equipped plane was a specially modified F-16, dubbed the X-26A or VISTA. In the cockpit, there was a pilot present as a precaution, who did not take part in the exercise.

According to DARPA, the agency overseeing the test, the artificial intelligence utilized data from prior flights during the flight and the simulated conflict.

DARPA has kept the clash's outcome under wraps. Nonetheless, the organization has mentioned that the results mark a historic leap in aviation and represent a monumental advancement in technology.

Notably, in 2020, over five trials on flight simulators, artificial intelligence claimed victory in all simulated battles against human opponents.

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