The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said its Venom-A autonomous software was used to operate the fighter aircraft. A human pilot was also onboard during the flight, but the AI system handled the aircraft’s flight operations.
The development marks a significant milestone in the use of artificial intelligence in military aviation and could pave the way for AI systems to operate alongside human pilots in fighter aircraft.
DARPA has indicated that AI pilots could eventually fly combat aircraft alongside their human counterparts, potentially carrying out missions in situations where deploying human pilots would expose them to significant risks.
The US government is exploring the use of autonomous systems for future military operations, with the aim of reducing the risks faced by human pilots during combat missions.
The successful test highlights the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence into military applications and the growing role of autonomous technology in future air warfare.