Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall rode in an F-16 fighter jet controlled by artificial intelligence and stated that AI agents could potentially fly in war better than humans due to their ability to handle large amounts of data. The test took place in an X-62A VISTA jet on May 2 at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Concerns remain about the ethics of using AI in warfare and potential consequences of deploying lethal robots on the battlefield without human operators. Adherence to the laws of armed conflict is a priority, but figuring out how to apply these norms to automated machines is a challenge.
The Air Force conducted an AI-versus-human F-16 dogfight in September, with AI agents performing well in various combat scenarios. Plans are underway to operate a fleet of AI-enabled drones alongside manned fighter jets by the end of this decade, known as collaborative combat aircraft, or CCAs. The goal is to have uncrewed aircraft carrying weapons in the force by 2030.
