Artificial Top Gun: US Air Force tests AI bot taking on human pilots in an epic dogfight

In what could possibly be the storyline for the next Top Gun movie, humans took on AI in an epic dogfight that unfolded over the skies of California.

Last year, a groundbreaking test took place as part of the Pentagon’s efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into military aircraft. Led by DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution program (ACE), the test featured an X-62A VISTA aircraft, a modified F-16 fighter jet equipped with AI software, engaging in a dogfight against a human-piloted F-16.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA is a research and development agency of the Department of Defense. They are responsible for the development of technologies and repurposing existing technologies for use by the US armed forces.

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While officials remained tight-lipped about the outcome of the dogfight, they acknowledged that the AI agents performed impressively across a range of scenarios during the tests.

Lt. Col. Ryan Hefron, the program manager for ACE, emphasised that the objective was not simply to determine a winner but to demonstrate the safe integration of AI into critical air combat environments.

This milestone comes after previous tests, including a series of successful flights conducted by the X-62A VISTA aircraft in February 2023. While these earlier tests focused on evaluating the aircraft’s capabilities, the September dogfighting test represented a significant leap forward in AI integration and combat readiness.

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The test, which followed months of planning and preparation, represents the culmination of DARPA’s efforts to develop trusted combat autonomy through human-machine collaboration.

With two human pilots onboard the autonomous fighter jet for safety, an AI agent controlled the F-16 in offensive and defensive combat sets, showcasing the potential of AI in aerial warfare.

This milestone comes after previous tests, including a series of successful flights conducted by the X-62A VISTA aircraft in February 2023. While these earlier tests focused on evaluating the aircraft’s capabilities, the September dogfighting test represented a significant leap forward in AI integration and combat readiness.

The tension between man and machine, the quest for dominance in the skies, and the relentless pursuit of innovation could provide the perfect backdrop for an adrenaline-fueled cinematic adventure.