DARPA boosts AI fighter jet program with new $11.3M contract
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is accelerating its ambitious vision for autonomous aerial combat, recently awarding a multi-million dollar contract to advance its program for deploying AI-controlled aircraft in future warfare scenarios. This move signals a significant step towards a future where human pilots may no longer be necessary in the cockpit of combat aircraft.
The contract, valued at $11.3 million, was secured by Systems and Technology Research and is designated for Phase Two of DARPA’s Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements (AIR) program. The core objective of this phase, as described by DARPA, involves developing sophisticated AI-driven algorithms capable of enabling real-time, distributed autonomous tactical execution within unpredictable, dynamic, and complex operational environments. In essence, this means creating AI that can make rapid, coordinated combat decisions without human intervention, ultimately leading to the deployment of uncrewed combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs).
A key requirement of the program is that Systems and Technology Research, along with other participating contractors, must develop these advanced systems utilizing existing sensor and weapons technologies. Through a series of rigorous tests and simulations, the AI systems will be required to meet specific benchmarks demonstrating their capability to operate as fully autonomous combat aircraft.
The AIR program builds upon the foundations laid by DARPA’s earlier Air Combat Evolution (ACE) initiative. The ACE program previously achieved notable milestones, including successfully enabling an AI to take control of an F-16 fighter jet mid-flight and engage in dogfights against human pilots. Critically, AI systems developed under ACE had already demonstrated their superior tactical prowess by consistently defeating human pilots in virtual dogfights. The AIR program is effectively the next stage, translating these foundational AI capabilities into operational readiness for unmanned aerial combat.
Systems and Technology Research appears to be the first company confirmed for Phase Two of the AIR program, indicating that it has successfully met the initial Phase One goal of “Creating fast and accurate models that capture uncertainty and automatically improve with more data.” While defense industry giants like Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems were involved in the initial stages, Phase Two will see DARPA reduce its pool of prospective contractors from six to four, suggesting a more focused development effort with a select group of high-performing partners.
DARPA’s push for autonomy extends beyond the skies. The agency recently announced the christening of the USX-1 Defiant, a pioneering autonomous, unmanned surface vessel. This vessel is currently being prepared for its inaugural at-sea demonstration, underscoring DARPA’s broader commitment to integrating advanced AI and autonomous capabilities across various domains of military operation, from air to sea. These parallel initiatives highlight a strategic shift towards a future where AI plays an increasingly central role in defense, fundamentally altering the landscape of modern warfare.