For these purposes, it is planned to modify four L-39 jet combat training aircraft, for which Calspan has allocated $14.1 million, according to Defense Brief
WASHINGTON, March 29. /TASS/. The Office of Advanced Research Programs of the US Department of Defense (DARPA) intends to develop a combat aircraft control program in 2023, endowed with artificial intelligence (AI) and able to replace the pilot in air battles. This was reported on Sunday by the specialized portal Defense Brief, noting that limited flight tests are expected to be conducted this year.
According to the portal, for these purposes, it is planned to start modifying four L-39 jet combat training aircraft, for which DARPA has allocated $14.1 million to Calspan. The program for the development of such an AI called " Air Combat Evolution "(Air Combat Evolution, ACE), designed for three stages," is already approaching the completion of the first stage, " the Defense Brief emphasizes.
"We are now focused on integrating the algorithms developed for simulated combat into aircraft control programs, while we prepare for real flights on a reduced aircraft model at the end of 2021," the portal quotes DARPA representative Colonel Dan Jevorsek. According to him, it is expected that training air battles using the L-39 can be started at the end of 2023 or in 2024.
Within ACE, several successful virtual fights have already been held. Last August, the AI managed to win five one-on-one F-16 battles against an experienced Air Force fighter pilot. Then it was allowed to " use " only air guns. In February of this year, the task was complicated: two "blue" F-16s, piloted by AI, were fighting with the same " red " fighter, and already with the possibility of using missiles.
The L-39 was developed in the 1960s in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody. From 1972 to the beginning of the 1990s, it was the main training aircraft of the Warsaw Pact member countries. It continues to be used in more than 30 countries around the world, including for training cadets of flight schools in Russia.
