The United States Air Force (USAF) is taking leaps and bounds toward the future of air combat with its Skyborg program. At the heart of this program is Vista, a modified F-16 fighter jet that flies pilotless using artificial intelligence (AI).
Vista is not limited to simulations, it performs real dogfights with AI. It has participated in real dogfights against an F-16 flown by an experienced human pilot. And these combats provide researchers with invaluable data on AI performance in real combat scenarios.
The key to Vista's success lies in its ability to learn from each experience. Data collected during dogfights is fed into a simulator. There, the AI analyzes its own movements and those of its opponent, identifying areas for improvement and adjusting its strategy for future confrontations.
The Skyborg and Vista program represent a significant leap in the development of air combat technology. AI has the potential to revolutionize the way wars are fought, making aircraft more maneuverable, efficient and lethal.
In theory, AI has a number of advantages in aerial combat:
- Faster reaction speed: AI can process information and make decisions much faster than humans, giving it a significant advantage in dynamic combat situations.
- Greater precision: AI systems can perform complex calculations more accurately than human pilots, allowing them to target their targets more precisely.
- Greater endurance: AI-controlled aircraft are not affected by fatigue, stress or emotions, allowing them to maintain optimal performance for long periods.
- Greater survivability: AI can make tactical decisions that maximize the aircraft's chances of survivability, even in high-risk situations.
I am clear that the Skyborg program and Vista are just the beginning. As AI technology continues to develop, we will almost certainly see a significant increase in the use of AI in air combat in the coming years.
Video of a flight of the Vista plane: https://youtu.be/8q19qHsizfE
It's just a formation flight with other planes.
The dilemma of AI in war environments is that it is given the ability and decision to kill. It would be a point of no return that should not occur.
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