US conducts historic first dogfight between AI-controlled F-16 and human pilot

History has been made by a US military outfit that conducted the first in-air dogfight between a human pilot and an AI-controlled fighter jet.

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has released footage of AI (artificial intelligence) algorithms autonomously flying a specially modified F-16 against a human-piloted F-16 and performing weaving manoeuvres as they go through the sky.

Darpa said this represented a "transformational moment in aerospace history".

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Darpa began experimenting with AI applications in December 2022 as part of its Air Combat Evolution (Ace) programme.

In flight, the Ace AI algorithms took control of the Variable In-flight Simulator Aircraft (Vista), a specially modified F-16 test aircraft known as the X-62A.

The test flight took place at the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, which is continuing to test autonomous combat manoeuvres.

During the flight the X-62A had two crew members on board for safety reasons - they had the independent ability to disengage the AI agent should something have gone wrong.

However, the US Air Force said the test pilots did not have to activate the safety switch at any point during the mock engagement over Edwards AFB.

Lieutenant Colonel Maryann Karlen, the deputy commander at the US Air Force Flight School, explained: "We built up in safety using the manoeuvres first defensive then offensive, then high aspect nose-to-nose engagements where we got as close as 2,000 ft at 1,200mph."

However, Darpa did not reveal which aircraft won the dogfight.

On X, the agency just said the in-air combat tests were "transforming progress for human-machine teaming and trusted autonomy".

Chief test pilot Bill Gray, of the USAF Test Pilot School, highlighted that this latest accomplishment, when taken into perspective, was not just about dogfighting.

He said: "It's very easy to look at the X-62A's programme and see it as under autonomous control and it can dogfight. That misses the point.

"Dogfighting was the problem to solve so that we can start testing autonomous artificial intelligence systems in the air. Every lesson we are learning applies to every task you could give to an autonomous system."

Darpa has so far conducted  21 test flights and said the test programme would continue through the year.