An artificial intelligence system has taken control of a real F-16 fighter jet, in a trial confirmed successful by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force.
اضافة اعلان
An AI-based software system successfully flew the combat aircraft during actual flight tests.
The system, known as the VENOM Autonomy Kit (VAK), took over piloting the aircraft during tests conducted at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Throughout the tests, a human pilot remained in the cockpit at all times, but was not actually flying the plane, as the AI system handled the flying with a notable degree of precision and skill.
Human Pilot for Oversight Only
The onboard pilot's role was essentially limited to safety monitoring, since the system was designed so control of the aircraft could be handed back immediately when needed.
The pilot can switch between human control and AI control with a single switch, ensuring continuous human oversight throughout the experimental testing phase.
A key feature of the engineering approach used in the VENOM project is that it enabled automation of the fighter jet's flight control systems and sensors without making changes to the aircraft's core software.
This turned a standard operational F-16 into an AI testing platform in a more efficient way.
Brigadier General James "Fangs" Valpiani, the program director at DARPA, said the emerging threat environment, particularly in aerial combat, is growing increasingly complex, noting that AI has significant potential to help humans manage this complexity in battles that take place beyond direct visual range.
He added that difficult questions still remain about how combat AI systems perform and how reliable they are under the highly complex conditions of modern warfare, explaining that the program aims to test advanced combat systems in realistic scenarios in order to develop capabilities that can be relied upon in the field.
First Trial on a Standard Operational F-16
The trial carries particular significance because DARPA had previously tested AI flight technologies using the specialized experimental aircraft X-62A VISTA.
That aircraft had taken part in the first-ever experimental aerial engagement between an AI system and a human pilot in 2023.
But the VENOM project marks the first time a standard operational F-16 has been used to test this kind of autonomous control.
The trials came after years of preparation. Engineers began simulations in 2024 through one-on-one engagements between two aircraft, before later expanding testing to combat scenarios involving two-on-two aircraft.
The modified aircraft began airworthiness testing in June, before moving on to autonomous control testing in July.
Plans for Autonomous Squadrons
DARPA has broader plans for this technology going forward, as the VENOM fleet currently forms the foundation for the AI enhancements program.
The program aims to test multiple AI systems simultaneously during real flight scenarios.
Ultimately, the agency is seeking to enable human pilots to command and manage teams of unmanned aircraft.
The military rationale behind the project centers on protecting pilots' lives, as DARPA envisions AI systems taking on dangerous combat missions beyond direct visual range.
Autonomous aircraft could also carry out high-risk operations without putting human pilots at risk, allowing them to be kept out of the most dangerous aerial engagements.
That said, officials acknowledge that important questions remain unanswered, and stress that combat AI systems must prove their reliability under maximum stress conditions.
For now, the success of these trials doesn't mean AI will fully replace human pilots.
Resource: Al-Ghad.
