US Air Force to test autonomous AI fighter against a human next year

Cal Jeffrey

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In a nutshell: Engineers with the US Air Force are developing an autonomous drone with a sophisticated AI that will hopefully be able to best fighter pilots in combat. The researchers plan to run a human-vs-AI test in July 2021.

The USAF started an AI-drone project in 2018. The goal was to implement machine learning in a less sophisticated craft like the F-16 within 18 months. If successful, newer fighters such as the F-32 or F-22 would eventually be outfitted. The prototype is far enough along now, two years later, that it's almost ready for a combat test.

Dr. Steve Rogers, who heads the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) project, told Inside Defense in 2018 that machine learning allows an AI system to have multiple lifetimes of training — something that is impossible with human pilots.

"Our human pilots, the really good ones, have a couple thousand hours of experience," said Rogers. "What happens if I can augment their ability with a system that can have literally millions of hours of training time? … How can I make myself a tactical autopilot, so in an air-to-air fight, this system could help make decisions on a timeline that humans can't even begin to think about?"

The project is classified, so not much is known about the details, but there are some assumptions we can make. For example, the AI craft probably won't be fully autonomous during the mock battle. After all, the prototype is likely worth tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. So it will probably be backed up by a human operator remotely. This assumption is partially reinforced by the feelings of Lieutenant General John Shanahan.

Shanahan, who heads up the Pentagon's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, briefly discussed the project with the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies last week (interview above). The General explained that fully autonomous vehicles are still in their infancy. As such, they cannot yet be fully trusted to operate flawlessly, whether that be on the road or in the air. However, he adds that the AFRL's research can and should be aided by the advancements made in the autonomous car industry.

"There is no level four, fully autonomous vehicle out on the roads today," said Shanahan. "On the other hand, that's a decade worth of experience we should be pulling into the military because they've learned so much."

Despite having to take necessary precautions to protect assets, General Shanahan is confident that the AFRL's AI will win the dogfight.

"[Steve Rogers] is probably going to have a hard time getting to that flight next year ... when the machine beats the human," the General said.

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Yea because replacing troops with ai so we don't loose people to inevitable wars is a bad idea.


Please explain to me just how effective the money we've spent at Lockheed has been?

#1 We are building air superiority fighters in a time when the enemy has no air force let alone anti-air defense.

#2 We are building STEALTH air superiority fighters in a time when the enemy has no air force let alone anti-air defense.

We will never end up fighting China or Russia directly because it would quickly turn into a nuclear threat.

Stealth aircraft like the F35, F22 and the cancelled Comanche are all runaway cost programs. the F-35 is cutting edge but it's so expensive as a program, our allies don't want it. They'd rather upgrade existing forces or use drone warfare if necessary.

#3 America lost 112,000 people in the past 4 months. That's more than Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, 911 and The War on Terror combined. Not a single jet fighter was of consequence.
 
Please explain to me just how effective the money we've spent at Lockheed has been?

#1 We are building air superiority fighters in a time when the enemy has no air force let alone anti-air defense.

#2 We are building STEALTH air superiority fighters in a time when the enemy has no air force let alone anti-air defense.

We will never end up fighting China or Russia directly because it would quickly turn into a nuclear threat.

Stealth aircraft like the F35, F22 and the cancelled Comanche are all runaway cost programs. the F-35 is cutting edge but it's so expensive as a program, our allies don't want it. They'd rather upgrade existing forces or use drone warfare if necessary.

#3 America lost 112,000 people in the past 4 months. That's more than Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, 911 and The War on Terror combined. Not a single jet fighter was of consequence.

Um, ALL of America's major rivals have both large air forces and stealth capability. And why do you think that Russia or China would want to resort to nukes any more than the US would? Please, share with us your credentials detailing your many years of geopolitical expertise. But the final nail in the coffin of your credibility has to be comparing a shooting war to a DISEASE. Sounds to me like *you* need a doctor - one that has the key to a padded room.
 
The true limitation of a flying machine is the pilot. The aircraft itself is mostly controlled by a computer because the fighters are built inherently unstable. A computer is necessary to control all flight control surfaces.

The weapons, airframe and all sub systems are limited by the presence of a pilot that can't tolerate the G-forces the aircraft itself is built to tolerate.

We've had 3 high profile crashes lately - not counting the Snobird crash in Canada. 2 F-35 and 1 F22. There was also a recent F-16 crash.

I'd bet good money on the machine.
 
Please explain to me just how effective the money we've spent at Lockheed has been?

#1 We are building air superiority fighters in a time when the enemy has no air force let alone anti-air defense.

#2 We are building STEALTH air superiority fighters in a time when the enemy has no air force let alone anti-air defense.

We will never end up fighting China or Russia directly because it would quickly turn into a nuclear threat.

Stealth aircraft like the F35, F22 and the cancelled Comanche are all runaway cost programs. the F-35 is cutting edge but it's so expensive as a program, our allies don't want it. They'd rather upgrade existing forces or use drone warfare if necessary.

#3 America lost 112,000 people in the past 4 months. That's more than Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, 911 and The War on Terror combined. Not a single jet fighter was of consequence.

We don't fight China or Russia because we.maintain a stalemate with them, if we fall behind they will run rampant across Southeast Asia and Europe. China is our enemy, it's a cold war but a war nonetheless.

As for dead Americans alot of those are people dying doing stupid things, drinking and driving, gang or drug related, or being in general an *****, all behaviors that arnt going to change. It's natural selection at work in alot of instances.
 
I dunno, maybe if you stop American terrorism in both its domestic and international forms, you won't be dragged into wars?

American terrorism?
What are you smoking we counter global terrorism and keep Russia and China and check. The terrorist nations are North Korea, Iran, Syria, China, Russia, all countries we keep in check. The civilized world sleeps soundly knowing America will destroy the bad guys if they go to far.
 
American terrorism?
What are you smoking we counter global terrorism and keep Russia and China and check. The terrorist nations are North Korea, Iran, Syria, China, Russia, all countries we keep in check. The civilized world sleeps soundly knowing America will destroy the bad guys if they go to far.
How are you responding to this thread if you're illeterate?

America doesn't do much "keeping terrorist nations in check" when they literally fund them. When they've literally caused the problems there. TBH, a better world is one where America is gone.

The civilized world laughs at America. Tries to avoid them. They know that the citizens are so stupid and conditioned that most of them are miles behind school aged children.
 
How many coups? How many millions funding and training Osama?

The lives lost on American soil have literally no value whatsoever when you consider their cost compared to what the country has done in the region.

I'm sorry we trained Afgans to fight off the Russian invasion that was decimating their people. The issue is after Russia was gone and the government toppled the people allowed extremists to run the country. Their hated of the west has everything to do with their holy book and how they view the west as ungodly and a corrupting influence on their people. Remember ISIS, Taliban, and Al Quida, hate Western ideas such as freedom of religion, women's rights, and self governance.
 
I'm sorry we trained Afgans to fight off the Russian invasion that was decimating their people. The issue is after Russia was gone and the government toppled the people allowed extremists to run the country. Their hated of the west has everything to do with their holy book and how they view the west as ungodly and a corrupting influence on their people. Remember ISIS, Taliban, and Al Quida, hate Western ideas such as freedom of religion, women's rights, and self governance.

America does not respect freedom of religion, women's rights, self governance, human rights, constitutional rights, any rights really.
 
Yea because replacing troops with ai so we don't loose people to inevitable wars is a bad idea.

This isn't a one or the other situation. America can easily reduce the defense budget significantly without impacting America's ability to defend itself of crucial R&D projects. I have multiple family members in the military, a lot of money is simply being wasted because they literally have too much money.
 
How are you responding to this thread if you're illeterate?

America doesn't do much "keeping terrorist nations in check" when they literally fund them. When they've literally caused the problems there. TBH, a better world is one where America is gone.

The civilized world laughs at America. Tries to avoid them. They know that the citizens are so stupid and conditioned that most of them are miles behind school aged children.

Go ahead and think that, if America decided to abandon NATO, The UN, and our Eastern Treaties Europe, and Southeast Asia would topple like dominos. We provide the muscle that keeps the world safe and provide the teeth that holds Russia back. Remember Russia didn't care when Europe deployed forced to Poland and kept advancing into Ukraine, but when American units started arriving Russia stopped. No one is scared of the European militaries not are they scared if the JSDF. They are scared of the US Military.
 
And you provide that muscle at the cost of keeping your citizens so ignorant that they cannot function.

Good job.
 
And you provide that muscle at the cost of keeping your citizens so ignorant that they cannot function.

Good job.

No our citizens are quite functional, but if you want America out go ahead and ask your leaders to cut ties, ask them leave treaties with America, ask them to no longer rely on America to keep your boarders secure. If America pulled back London would be speaking Russian in a year. I'd be more than happy if we pulled our forces out of Europe and Asia, our only real ally is Isreal, we need to let the world see what happens if we give the rest of them the middle finger. We'd have Europeans begging for aid as Russian tanks fired in their cities and shot their citizens.
 
I see that you've never met an American, then.

And nah, our nation doesn't rely on you for security. But keep jerking off in camo to think that you're a big boy who matters.
 
It'd be great if the government could stop pissing away trillions of dollars and actually take care of the people for the first time in 243 years.
Which government? As things stand today, there are two competing governments and political systems. We're watching a new cold war between China and the USA take place in slow motion.
 
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