FILE: Frank Kendall, the director of the United States Air Force, is present at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium to observe the Air Force face off against the Army West Point Black Knights on November 4, 2023.
WASHINGTON – In a strategic maneuver to underscore the future of aerial warfare, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall is set to embark on an artificial intelligence-operated warplane. Over 1,000 autonomously operated combat aircraft will be showcased during this event.
During a hearing with senators on Tuesday discussing the agency’s 2025 budget, Kendall disclosed his plan to test the capabilities of a drone-configured F-16 firsthand. His aim is to witness the operation of the AI-controlled aircraft in flight, as reported by the Associated Press.
Kendall mentioned that a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s security screen will accompany him on the flight, observing how intelligent engineering functions. “I’m optimistic that neither of us will need to take control of the flight.”
Unmanned ‘wingman’ aircraft, a new standard
A secondary piloted aircraft could effectively lead multiple AI-driven drones, referred to as “loyal wingmen,” following a strategy devised by the Air Force for its innovative fleet of combat aircraft known as CCAs.
Drone warfare has rapidly evolved from a minor aspect to a pivotal element. Automated systems pose a regular threat in regions like Ukraine and the Middle East.
In Ukraine, civilians are targeted by Russian drones, while these drones are also used for intelligence gathering on Russian activities. In the Middle East, Iranian-backed groups frequently deploy sophisticated drones to strike American installations and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, underscoring the escalating role of drones in modern warfare.
To sustain the advancement and evaluation of the forthcoming CCA ecosystem, the Air Force has requested $559 million from the 2025 budget.
Expert discusses the potential of Artificial Intelligence
During an artificial intelligence conference in London on Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris outlined the Biden administration’s strategy to address concerns related to A.I. Simon Wilby, the innovator behind 1Voice A.I., engaged in a conversation with FOX’s Mike Pache to delve into the challenges and potential remedies.
The broader objective of integrating human pilots with AI-managed wingmen extends beyond the initial test flight to encompass autonomous aircraft operations.
Last year, an XQ-58A Valkyrie flew for three hours under the supervision of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) AI and machine-learning systems. While specific details were withheld, AFRL asserted that the aircraft successfully processed mission-critical data, aligning with the Air Force’s initiative to broaden the utilization of intelligent aircraft.
Colonel Tucker Hamilton, the Air Force’s AI oversight and operations lead, emphasized that the mission showcased a multi-layer safety protocol on an unmanned aircraft governed by AI/ML systems. It also demonstrated an AI/ML agent effectively resolving a strategically significant “issue” during flight operations.
This article was authored by The Associated Press. It was reported from Los Angeles.
