Lockheed Martin's secretive division Skunk Works conducted interesting tests late last year involving the experimental X-62A Vista aircraft with artificial intelligence systems. These tested the fighter's ability to evade attack from a simulated enemy missile purely through AI without pilot intervention.
Test details were shared at the Air and Space Forces Association conference, Defense One notes. During testing, a surface-to-air missile attack on the experimental X-62A Vista aircraft was simulated. The onboard artificial intelligence then detected the threat and successfully evaded it without pilot participation.
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When the missile warning or alert came in, the pilot didn't have to do anything. The aircraft responded in a tactically correct manner to keep the pilot alive and ensure aircraft survivability, emphasized Skunk Works Vice President and General Manager O.J. Sanchez.
This technology testing received the designation Have Remy. As noted, such training helps understand how AI systems can assist pilots in stressful situations such as enemy missile attacks.
The main question apparently remains: how much can a combat aircraft pilot trust such systems? On one hand, AI will naturally have better reaction time than humans and can work flawlessly in stressful moments where there is no room for error.
On the other hand, any system malfunction means additional risk for the pilot, involving literally seconds on which his life depends. At the same time, Sanchez emphasizes that projects like Have Remy must build human trust in AI systems.
Ultimately, artificial intelligence is penetrating deeper into the defense sphere. For example, we previously reported that the U.S. is considering whether generals can be replaced by artificial intelligence if it surpassed Air Force planners. Dassault is integrating combat artificial intelligence from Harmattan AI on Rafale.
Regarding AI systems for maneuvering and missile evasion, even if this does not take hold on crewed aircraft, such an option could be very interesting for unmanned fighters, where AI would help at least partially address their main vulnerability.
Previously, Defense Express reported that the manufacturer of Ruta missile-drones for Ukrainepurchased an artificial intelligence developer for €195 million.
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