At Edwards Air Force Base in California, an event took place that may mark a turning point in aerial combat history. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall climbed into an experimental F-16, not as the pilot, but as a passenger to artificial intelligence—the new contender in the sky.

This was not your average flight demonstration. The F-16, an icon of American airpower, was controlled by AI and pitted against an experienced human pilot in a series of dogfights.

The results were eye-opening. The AI held its own, matching maneuvers with a pilot who had accumulated between 2,000 and 3,000 hours of flight time, a mark of a “senior pilot,” just one step shy of a “command pilot.”

According to Secretary Kendall, “It was roughly an even fight.” However, he suggested a less experienced pilot would have likely been bested by the AI.

This test flight is part of a broader push into the future of warfare, one that is increasingly looking to AI as a crucial element. The Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program aims to develop unmanned “wingmen” that will fly alongside manned fighters, enhancing combat power and presenting new challenges for adversaries.

But the integration of AI into combat aircraft is not just about maintaining a technological edge; it’s also about grappling with the ethical and strategic implications of automation in warfare.

Secretary Kendall acknowledges the need to regulate AI and its applications in warfare, emphasizing that existing laws of armed conflict still apply.

“We have to figure out how to hold those people accountable to ensure that we have compliance with the norms we all agree to,” Kendall stated, highlighting the responsibility humans have in deploying such technologies.

The use of autonomous aircraft raises critical questions about the future of warfare and the role of human pilots. As the U.S. military advances toward an AI-enabled fleet, there is urgency in staying ahead of potential adversaries like Russia.

Kendall asserts, “The future is becoming clearer,” posing the question of who will reach AI dominance first and under what constraints.

This drive toward AI is not without opposition. Concerns about “killer robots” and the ethical considerations of autonomous weapons have sparked debates among arms control experts and humanitarian groups.

However, Kendall reassured that human oversight would remain integral, especially when it comes to the decision to launch weapons.

As the race to AI superiority accelerates, the U.S. military’s exploration into AI combat scenarios at Edwards—where Chuck Yeager once broke the sound barrier—continues.

Amid cost and security pressures, the Air Force looks towards a future where AI-powered jets will not only supplement but also potentially supersede human pilots.

The implications are profound: a future where AI can process data faster, make decisions quicker, and perform tasks beyond human capability. Yet, the U.S. must navigate these technological waters carefully, balancing innovation with ethics and strategic prudence, ensuring that as machines take to the skies, they do so under the vigilant watch of their human creators.

Relevant articles:
– In F-16 Dogfight, AI and Human Pilots Are ‘Roughly an Even Fight,’ Says Kendall, Air & Space Forces Magazine
– Autonomous F-16 Fighters Are ‘Roughly Even’ With Human Pilots Said Air Force Chief, The National Interest
– AI-powered F-16 impresses ride-along SECAF in dogfight, Defense One
– An AI-controlled fighter jet took the Air Force leader for a historic ride. What that means for war, AP News