Digital dogfight: Who would win between an AI fighter pilot and a human?

Who would win in a fight: an experienced fighter pilot at the controls of an F-35 or an uncrewed platform flown by AI with just a few weeks' training?

According to retired Wing Commander Stew Campbell, a former OC of 617 Squadron, the future is already here.

The ex-RAF officer has teamed up with a former French jet pilot to test a system called Centaur, designed by European manufacturer Helsing.

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Wg Cdr Campbell said: "I guess the thing to stress is, this is really early days.

"If you think what that could turn into in five, 10 years' time, you know, you'd hope that actually by that point I don't think we will be able to compete on the same playing field."

Centaur has already taken the controls of a real fighter jet, the high-tech Swedish Saab Gripen, during live test flights over the Baltic.

Helsing claims an AI pilot can learn as much in one week as a human pilot can pick up in more than 100 years.

Helsing programme manager Martin Bindemann, who is also a retired Wing Commander, believes this technology can transform air power.

In addition to the sheer ability of an AI pilot, he pointed out how there may be some missions where the autonomous asset could be sent to operate on its own, meaning a human would not need to be put in harm's way.

Despite the potential importance of autonomous aircrew, Wg Cdr Campbell believes there will still be a place for a human.

"I think today's pilots should be really pleased that if AI can do the job better and we want to win and survive, why would we not embrace it?" he said.

"I firmly believe that will always be a position for pilots, whether that's recreationally or whether that's a unique tasking or perhaps even, you know, commercially, I think they'll still be some military uses as well.

"But without a doubt this is going to be part of the future.

"And the sooner we embrace it, the sooner we get ahead of other nations doing that."

Platforms like Centaur want to demonstrate what AI can do right now, not in the distant future or even in a month's time, but from today.