The US military AI fighter jet was recently revealed to the media for the first time, and the US Air Force secretary even personally tested it. What is the intention of such a high-profile display?
The US Secretary of the Air Force flew on an AI fighter jet
Simulate one-on-one air combat
Recently, the US media made public for the first time the US military's artificial intelligence (AI) fighter jet project.
According to reports, US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall test-piloted the X-62A artificial intelligence aircraft being developed by the US Department of Defense. During the 1-hour flight, Kendall did not intervene during the whole process, and all actions were completed by the AI autonomously.
The X-62A AI aircraft is a modification of the F-16 fighter. This time, the X-62A AI aircraft conducted a one-on-one simulated air combat exercise with another fighter piloted by a human pilot, and the two fighters were only about 300 meters apart when they came closer.
According to information disclosed by the U.S. Air Force, in September 2023, the X-62A has engaged in aerial combat with F-16 fighters piloted by human pilots, and has completed more than 20 flight missions so far. AI programs learn very quickly and have been able to beat human pilots in some cases.
Military commentator Wei Dongxu said that the US Air Force is now trying its best to exaggerate and hype AI fighters, in fact, to save face. In January and April of this year, the US military dropped an F-16 fighter jet. Since the hardware system is not very reliable, it is necessary to highlight the advantages achieved by artificial intelligence to boost morale and stabilize the morale of the military.
AI replaces pilots
Is it possible to change the mode of air combat?
Can AI Replace Pilots Change Air Combat Patterns? Wu Mingxi, a military artificial intelligence expert, said that the U.S. Air Force is currently implementing simultaneous transformation of six F-16 fighter jets, and AI fighters will take the road of clustering. Compared with manned fighters, this AI-empowered fighter can get rid of the limitations of the pilot's physiological limits, save space, cope with various weather conditions, and have the ability to fight at the limit in the air.
U.S. media said that in the future war environment, AI-controlled drone swarms will first strike at enemy defense systems and infiltrate enemy airspace without risking the pilot's life.
Wei Dongxu pointed out that the United States has always tried to intervene militarily in foreign countries, and once a large number of AI fighters are used, human pilots can be killed without casualties, the scruples of the US military launching surprise attacks and other military operations will be reduced, the threshold for the use of force against foreign countries will be lowered, and the US Air Force will have no scruples about launching an attack.
The U.S. military plans to form an AI fighter unit
Causing concern from the outside world
According to the Associated Press, although the technology is far from mature, the U.S. Air Force is planning to form a force of more than 1,000 AI unmanned fighters, the first of which is expected to enter service in 2028.
The accelerated development of AI by the U.S. Air Force has aroused vigilance from the outside world. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warns that there are widespread and serious concerns about leaving life-and-death decisions in the hands of sensors and software. "Autonomous weapons" are a direct cause of concern, and an international political response is urgently needed.
Wei Dongxu said that the heavy use of AI fighters will bring very big risks. These AI systems have no ethical standards, and if they are allowed to make their own decisions and open fire, the goal is only to complete the mission, which can lead to the death and injury of innocent people in the relevant area.
Wu Mingxi pointed out that we should remain highly vigilant about the military application of AI. When AI can pull the trigger, there is currently no unified standard in the international community, but the United States has been "running wild" on this road. We call on the international community to formulate standards and rules for the application of AI and weapons, especially how to avoid casualties among innocent people, and impose certain constraints on AI.
Source | CCTV Military Comprehensive "Weapons Aspects"