XQ-58A Valkyrie
Artificial intelligence (AI) managed to pilot the XQ-58A Valkyrie combat drone in the sky over Florida for three hours. This was preceded by several million hours of training on flight simulators and flights on the X-62 VISTA, which used the same algorithms. The results of this experiment by the US military proved that AI can perform important tactical tasks in the air autonomously.
With a maximum speed of 1,050 km / h, the XQ-58A Valkyrie drone is capable of climbing to an altitude of more than 13,000 meters with a power reserve of up to 4,000 km. The drone can carry a rocket and bomb load on board. Its development was the result of the desire of the US Air Force Command to reduce the number of expensive manned flights. The alternative will allow you to send drones to particularly dangerous areas and accompany fighters when performing combat missions. The relevant programs funded by the US government are aimed at creating a combat drone with a jet engine capable of performing tasks both in a machine-man bundle and without human control at all. It will be able to hit targets in the air and on the ground, and the experience gained can be transferred to other military programs, where autonomy plays a key role.
Alexander Kozyrev
