Artificial Intelligence (AI) could take over the front line on the battlefield in the future because it can operate military jets successfully. For nearly a day, an AI fighter pilot could control a modified F-16 fighter jet, Vista X-62A.
What Is Vista X-62A?
The VISTA X-62A is an upgraded F-16D Block 30 Peace Marble II with Block 40 avionics installed. It was first named the NF-16D. However, in June 2021, the US government declared it a national asset and changed its name to the X-62A, according to Interesting Engineering.
It comes with advanced capabilities inside its aluminum alloy body. Two of its most notable features are Calspan's "VISTA Simulation System" (VSS) and Lockheed Martin's "Model Following Algorithm" (MFA), and "System for Autonomous Control of the Simulation" (SACS).
The said features gave the aircraft a system to fly itself and a place to test artificial intelligence. Its "Enterprise Mission Computer" version 2 (EMC2), also known as "Einstein Box," lets it link to its older system for shared data across all domains. Skunk Works' "Enterprise-wide Open Systems Architecture" (E-OSA) managed the data on the SACS system.
According to Lockheed, Vista X-62A has better features and can make faster software shifts for rapid prototyping to speed up development and allow more test flights.
VISTA will allow the U.S. Air Force to develop and test cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques concurrently with new unmanned vehicle designs, according to Dr. M. Christopher Cotting, Director of research at the US Air Force Test Pilot School. He added that the approach, combined with focused testing of new vehicle systems as they are produced, will rapidly mature autonomy for uncrewed platforms and allow us to provide tactically relevant capabilities to our military.
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Vista X-62A AI-Controlled Test Fight
In December 2022, an AI successfully controlled Vista X-62A. It performed takeoffs, landing, and combat maneuvers without human intervention for over 17 hours, Daily Mail reported.
The AI-controlled test flight happened at the Edwards Air Force Base in California, United States. It showed that AI could take the reigns in battles.
Its success fast-forwarded the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, proving the effectiveness of autonomous dogfighting by a year.
A dogfight is a fight between fighter planes, which fly close to one another and move very fast, according to Collins. The aerial battle can be seen at a visual range, and while it is relatively uncommon in modern warfare, they have been observed during the war in Ukraine, Daily Mail noted.
According to Air Force lieutenant colonel Ryan Hefron, they conducted multiple sorties [takeoffs and landings] with numerous test points performed on each sortie to test the algorithms under varying starting conditions, against various simulated foes, and with simulated weapon capabilities.
They did not encounter any significant problems, but we did observe some variances from simulation-based results, which is to be expected during the transition from virtual to real.
It demonstrates the significance of flight-testing advanced autonomous capabilities and doing so on testbeds like VISTA, which allowed us to rapidly learn lessons and iterate much more quickly than with other air vehicles.
A safety pilot was on board during the test flights, ready to take over if necessary.
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