By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
The Air Force’s fast emerging 6th-generation stealth fighter jet is expected to pioneer new, paradigm-changing levels of AI evidence in sensing, computing, weapons integration, networking and an unprecedented ability to operate drones from the cockpit.
US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin referenced the service’s now developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft family of unmanned systems intended to fly alongside and support manned 6th-generation Next-Generation Air Dominance stealth fighters. Speaking recently at the Reagan Defense Forum in Washington DC, Allvin mentioned the Collaborative Combat Aircraft in the context of future applications of AI.
“I do believe the future is going to be about human-machine teaming,” Allvin said at the forum, as quoted in an Air Force essay. “Optimizing the performance and being able to operate at speed. That investment in our collaborative combat aircraft program is what is going to get us there.”
Allvin’s use of the term “human-machine” teaming is likely quite deliberate, as the prevailing strategic thinking regarding the integration of AI is to “combine” attributes and capabilities unique to human decision-making and perceptions with the paradigm-changing speeds of AI. This means a 6th-gen aircraft will, as Allvin referred to, network “wingman” drones with breakthrough speeds and efficiency. Incoming ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) data can not only be organized, processed and analyzed in milliseconds but detailed relevant information can transmit across an entire formation of manned and unmanned systems in real time, something which expedites targeting, target verification and two-way communication throughout operations using both manned and unmanned teaming.
Allvin’s comments also align with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s priority upon service “imperatives,” key areas of focus which include networking the arriving 6th-gen aircraft as a “family of systems.” This, as Allvin suggested, introduces new tactical possibilities.
Drone-Fighter Jet AI-enabled “Networking”
In an operational context, this means enemy air defenses can be assessed, tested, identified and targeted if necessary for a group of drones and manned systems in position to attack. AI-enabled processing can also identify moments and items of relevance amid massive volumes of incoming data. This is likely the most impactful difference, as AI-enabled computing can sift through huge volumes of data in seconds and extract the intelligence of highest value to human decision makers. This organized relevant data can also transmit across a formation involving manned-unmanned teaming and, to a degree, even unmanned-unmanned teaming. In a tactical and operational sense, Allvin explained, this means achieving breakthrough “speeds.”
“We are leveraging algorithms and starting with data fusion and being able to gain insights,” Allvin said. “The changing character of war is speed. If we are going to be privileging speed and have massive amounts of data, the ability to have algorithms and the tools that support and let the analysts do what only humans can do which is make that human decision.”
Another potential application of AI, earlier versions of which are already operational in F-35s, is to expedite the connectivity between an on board Mission Data Files “threat library” system and a cockpit target identification and fire control system. Should an enemy object or threat be identified by on board sensors, the data can instantly bounce off of a threat library such as that now in the F-35, perform analysis, and almost immediately provide verified target details to human pilots. Due to AI in this case, pilots will know in seconds if an enemy aircraft seen at standoff distance is a Chinese J-20, Russian Su-35 or enemy drone. Using Collaborative Combat Aircraft, as Allviin explained, sensors and data processing of this kind can take place with unmanned systems in high-risk forward positions across a wide operational envelope. This not only creates an interconnected, interoperable “meshed” network of nodes but also performs data processing at the point of collection in many instances to expedite operational speed.
Kris Osborn is President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
