The United States Air Force has announced that it’s begun working on harnessing artificial intelligence to pilot military aircraft and has flown its first flight co-piloted by an artificial intelligence system on the 15th of December, 2020.

Using an AI algorithm known as ARTUµ, the US Air Force flew the Lockheed U-2 high altitude spy plane together with a main pilot, Air Force Maj. “Vudu”. During its flight, the AI system was responsible for sensor employment and tactical navigation while the pilot flew the aircraft and co-ordinated with the system on sensor operation, the Air Force says.

During the flight, a simulated missile strike was conducted as well as a reconnaissance mission.

Lockheed U-2S Dragon Lady spy plane.

According to the Air Force, the AI system co-piloting the Lockheed U-2 learned from over a half-million computer-simulated training iterations. It’s part of an ongoing program by the military to boost its capabilities with high-end technology such as artificial intelligence to gain an advantage in operations.

As the use of artificial intelligence grows rapidly, it’s peeking itself into many areas, aviation not left behind. Already, aviation has long been a sector where the use of computers and automated software to guide flights has long been accepted. 

For the US Air Force, it’s now applying artificial intelligence to perform flight tasks that would have otherwise been carried out by the pilot, marking the first time ever when artificial intelligence made it to flight aboard a military aircraft, the agency notes.

For now, the Air Force’s AI system acts as more as an assistant and doesn’t seem to have more sophisticated capabilities. With time, though, development will continue and in future time may spur a military flight entirely controlled by AI.

For a more detailed look, here’s an article at The Drive that dives deeper into the US Air Force’s AI use.

Photo(s) credit: US Air Force

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