Fighter Jet Flown by AI
Created on February 15|Last edited on February 16
Comment
Wow. An AI managed to fly a fighter jet for 17 hours. And here I was thinking we would be maybe a few years away from that!
The VISTA X-62A, a modified fighter jet, was flown at Edwards Air Force Base in California. VISTA, or Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft, was developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works which is a pseudonym for Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development division. Specializing in defense and technology, this is one of their very intriguing projects!
I wonder how the AI system was designed. Imagine if it had the ability to land, or perform an air-to-air refuel, or access weapons. I also wonder how good a pilot this AI is compared to a trained pilot. Much like chess or Go or Dota 2 or Starcraft, imagine if an AI was trained to specifically master flight in a jet. It would outcompete most seasoned pilots while also not fatiguing. It wouldn't need a break and it would be able to process information instantaneously!
With the ultimate goal of upgrading defenses, there are also repercussions, especially in a case like this. The AI mans a multi-million-dollar aircraft and is capable of causing destruction. A mistake here is incomparable to dropping a pole from a cart! Though inseparable from these problems, this showcase is an impressive feat and it foreshadows what AI might be able to do within a few years from now, if not months!
Reference
Gans, Jared. “Ai Flies F-16-Inspired Jet for 17 Hours in First Test with Tactical Aircraft.” The Hill, The Hill, 14 Feb. 2023
“Vista X-62 Advancing Autonomy and Changing the Face of Air Power.” VISTA X-62 Advancing Autonomy and Changing the Face of Air Power, 13 Feb. 2023,
Add a comment
Tags: ML News
Iterate on AI agents and models faster. Try Weights & Biases today.