US Creates Breakthrough Artificial Intelligence Technology for Fighter Jets
Piloting AI fighter jets is considered a revolution. On the other hand, this program means that AI holds weapons that can kill humans.
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By
IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM
·3 minutes read
EDWARDS, SATURDAY – The United States Air Force is breaking new ground in the involvement of artificial intelligence in weapons. Trials of the technology as a controller for the F-16 fighter jet continue to be matured. Washington plans to build 1,000 artificial intelligence-controlled fighter planes.
Reported by the Associated Press on Saturday (4/5/2024), the Director General of the Air Force at the US Department of Defense Frank Kendall boarded one of the F-16s. For security reasons, Kendall's flight time was not revealed. It is only stated that Kendall got off at Edwards Air Force Base in California after boarding a plane controlled by artificial intelligence or artificial intelligence (AI).
He boarded an aircraft called the Variable in-flight Simulator Aircraft (Vista). Kendall climbed aboard Vista after the program began flight testing in December 2022.
He wants to see and feel the ability of AI in controlling one of the best-selling fighter jets. After flying for an hour, he is convinced about the role of AI in future air combat. "There is a security risk if we don't have it. At this point, we must have it," he said.
The Kendall aircraft participated in an air combat simulation with a human-piloted F-16. Kendall is confident that in battle, an AI controller is capable of deciding when to shoot. This is based on the jet's ability to engage in maneuvering and pursuit with a human-controlled aircraft.
On the other hand, Kendall mentioned that there will always be people behind AI. These people will oversee AI's decisions on whether to shoot or not.
There are considerations of security, budget, and strategy regarding the use of AI as a fighter jet pilot. The current air force, which relies on human beings, would be very expensive and dangerous. Currently, the US Air Force, among others, has difficulty maintaining the operation of the F-35. The state-of-the-art US fighter jets require 1.7 trillion US dollars.
However, funding is needed for other programs. Electronic warfare, the use of air and space defense, and targeting techniques require large amounts of money while also endangering humans. On the other hand, the US admitted to being left behind by China in terms of unmanned vehicles.
In future US wartime scenarios, the use of unmanned vehicles for surveillance of targets will provide tactical advantages. Smaller and cheaper vehicles controlled by AI will be the future.
Big progress
The use of AI as a pilot is one of the major advances in US military aviation. Although the testing series is still ongoing, the US plans to produce 1,000 fighter jets controlled by AI.
Operator Vista claims that no other country has similar technology. Vista is a software that learns from millions of data inputs. Based on that learning, Vista tests its abilities in field simulations with actual planes. The results of the simulation are then studied for further improvements.
So far, at least 24 simulations have been conducted with a real plane. From each simulation, the Air Force claims there has been an improvement. In fact, Vista is claimed to have beaten human pilots.
A number of parties have criticized the idea of AI pilots in fighter jets, including weapon control experts and humanitarian groups. They are concerned that in the future, AI may make independent decisions to drop bombs.
This means that AI pilots will be able to kill people without consulting humans first. Therefore, some parties are trying to limit the use of AI pilots.
"There is widespread and serious concern about the delegation of life and death decisions to sensors and software. Autonomous weapons pose concerns and require urgent international political responses," warns the International Red Cross Committee. (AP)
Editor:
KRIS MADA
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