US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recently piloted an experimental AI-powered F-16 fighter jet during a test flight at California’s Edwards Air Force Base. The AI-controlled F-16, coined as the X-62A VISTA (Variable In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft), engaged in a simulated air-to-air combat scenario with a human-piloted F-16, during which both aircraft flew within 1,000 feet of each other at speeds over 550 mph and attempted to force each other into vulnerable positions through complex high-speed maneuvers. Kendall, who experienced the AI-piloted jet firsthand, asserted the urgent need for AI weaponry, citing it as a security risk not to have it.
The use of AI in autonomous weapons systems (AWS) is a highly controversial topic. Governments and stakeholders worldwide have growing concerns over the idea of AI independently launching weapons without human intervention. This issue was recently discussed in depth at the “Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation,” conference held in Vienna, attended by representatives from 143 countries. The conference proposed an urgent need for regulatory mechanisms for the implementation of AI into AWS.
The question of accountability in a situation where AI weaponry fails or makes an error was also raised during the conference. Unresolved, it lingers whether responsibility should fall on the manufacturer, the commanding officer, or the individuals lower down in the ranks who are operating the equipment.
AI is more than directing missiles and gunfire; its strategic intelligence can significantly impact war games. However, a recent study indicated that AI-driven strategies could spur escalation towards nuclear war.
The real-world application of AI weaponry is already seen on the battlefields in Ukraine, where both sides have deployed autonomous drones, and in Gaza, where Israeli forces allegedly use AI to identify human targets. Despite these growing concerns, the US Air Force is aiming to make its fleet AI-enabled by 2028, comprising more than 1,000 unmanned warplanes.
The X-62A VISTA is unique in its kind, with Vista affirming there are no similar AI aircraft existing, particularly in China, a country that has advanced AI technologies comparable to those in the US. This venture into AI-powered aviation by the US Air Force underlines the potential shift towards AI-operated warfare in the future. This novel concept poses dilemmas and concerns comparable to science fiction narratives, typically ending with unfavorable outcomes.
