US Fighters Jets Fly With AI-Copilots

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

The Pentagon has been experimenting with unmanned fighter jets for many years now, and the technology is reasonably well evolved. The ability for autonomous flight and independent maneuvers in response to surrounding conditions is increasingly possible, and AI-enabled systems have shown great dogfighting prowess in simulations against manned fighters.

The technology has evolved to the point such that the Pentagon is preparing its new 6th-gen Next Generation Air Dominance stealth fighter and its B-21 Raider stealth aircraft for unmanned missions. Years ago, former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said the F-35 will likely be the last “manned” fighter jet, a clear indication of the sophistication and effectiveness of autonomous technology.

This considered, the prevailing consensus among top weapons developers is that human decision-making and ultimate leadership is just as if not more critical than ever. Scientists, senior leaders, innovators and top technologist do seem consistent in that they suggest the optimal approach is to “combine” the best of both high-speed, data-analyzing AI and human cognition.

NGAD: Manned and Unmanned

Can unmanned systems, empowered by AI-generated computing, algorithms enabling autonomous targeting, maneuvering and flight path adjustments, and breakthrough kinds of data analysis, outperform any manned platforms?

The answer may, at least in some respects, be a clear yes, yet does that mean human consciousness and decision-making abilities are or will become obsolete and worthy of being replaced by AI-enabled algorithms?

Why can’t drones simply perform the entire range of missions intended for the Air Force’s and Navy’s 6th-generation manned platform? After all, the Air Force has already successfully flown unmanned fighter jets and even manned jets with an AI-enabled computerized co-pilot.

Manned-Unmanned Teaming

The reason there will still be a need for a manned platform, despite the rapid progress of AI-enabled computing, decision-making, and autonomy, is that there are attributes unique to human cognition that computers are simply not able to replicate. Certainly, AI-enabled high-speed computing can perform limitless amounts of procedural functions, analysis, and determinations without needing human intervention.