Posted on 03/11/2024 12:56:20 PM PDT by Red Badger
The announced program will form part of the larger $6 billion Collaborative Combat Aircraft project.
Artist's impression of Boeing MQ-28 wingmen in formation with a piloted jet fighter. - Boeing
The United States Pentagon has announced its intention to fund the development of a fleet of artificial intelligence-piloted (AI-piloted) aircraft. The contract has gone out to tender with the plan to contract two private contractors to develop the craft.
Called the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) project, it will form part of a larger $6 billion program to see at least 1,000 new drones join the United States Air Force (USAF) ranks. The AI-piloted drones will fly alongside human pilots and help provide cover, escort, fire support, and scouting roles.
To be considered, the proposed aircraft must be able to fly at least 30 feet (9.1 meters) above the ground autonomously and at ground speeds of 600 mph (966 kph). The AI-piloted drone fleet will need to be able to perform risky maneuvers and escort and protect crewed planes, carry weapons to attack targets on the ground and in the air, and act as scouts.
The Pentagon plans to select two companies by this summer to produce the planes to complete hundreds within five years. Each plane is expected to cost between $10 and $20 million. To put that into perspective, a new F-35 costs around $100 million apiece, while a B-21 can cost upwards of $750 million per unit.
Thousands of AI-piloted fighters “[The AI-piloted drones] offer a lot of things that traditional crewed fighter planes just aren’t designed to do,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told the Wall Street Journal.
The AI-piloted planes will be designed to be expendable, flying one or two missions before being retired or destroyed, making them cheaper than manned aircraft.
VIDEO AT LINK.............
This, then, presumably, also forms part of the Pentagon’s larger vision for its “Replicator program” of expendable, so-called “attritable” drones to help the US combat China’s growing drone strength.
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, and Anduril Industries confirmed their intentions to develop the drones. General Atomics is another potential bidder, and new entrants like Anduril are also likely to submit bids for the program.
Boeing’s MQ-28 is in the running
Only Boeing has released its vision for the program with its futuristic MQ-28 “Ghost Bat” proposal. “The Boeing MQ-28 is a new uncrewed aircraft using artificial intelligence to be that force multiplier. It’s designed to work as a smart team with existing military aircraft to complement and extend airborne missions,” explains Boeing on its dedicated “Ghost Bat” webpage.
“The MQ-28 has enough capability to get the job done – from ISR to tactical early warning and more – but with a low-cost design that allows operators to confidently put it on the front line,” they add.
In August 2023, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks stated that AI-enabled autonomous vehicles deployed by the US military would provide affordable and expendable units, significantly improving the sluggish pace of military innovation.
The Daily Mail reports that the USAF has announced that it will need 100 new AI-piloted jets yearly. Companies have been advised to keep their designs simple and focus on the minimum mission requirements rather than planning for every possible scenario. However, pilots have previously opposed this, fearing that unmanned aircraft could make them redundant.
I recall this concept being discussed in the Reagan era. Now, against China, the key point is to amplify the combat capabilities of manned aircraft in a relatively quick and cheap manner.
And these clowns think that they can write software to fully control an unmanned loyal wingman in combat?
Sounds like Austin and other Government Pukes are looking to launder some money.
I wonder how AI is on ethics, war crimes and obeying illegal or conflicting orders?
The announced program will form part of the larger $6 billion Collaborative Combat Aircraft project.
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More like $60 billion.
I’m sure it will all work just fine.
The only way to beat an enormous drone armada is with another drone armada. Applies on the sea, in the air, and on the land.
If you can make them simple and modular, with a price per unit of about $100,000, you can build and deploy so many that you can overwhelm any defenses.
So General Atomics and Anduril have confirmed that want the program BUT they are only potential and/or likely bidders.
Pentagon wants 1000s of AI-piloted fighter jets.
Hey Moe don’t they already have drones that work.
“Do they really think some computer code can beat an Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine pilot?”
The answer is ‘yes’ based on the tests I’ve seen. In joining up for aerial refueling and landing on carriers, the AI aircraft are definitely better.
The Terminator.
“Do they really think some computer code can beat an Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine pilot?”
The code would only be what was needed to guide a drone equipped with, say, a laser aimed fifty and a thousand rounds to out outmaneuver the piloted craft which is limited by g forces on the pilot.
They better have DEI AI or else!
Playing catch-up with China soon, and who no doubt is making progress on hacking such.
What could possibly go wrong?
“Do they really think some computer code can beat an Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine pilot?”
Easily, because there are essentially no g-force limitations.
I stand corrected.
Breaking news. AI plane decides it doesn’t like America. Fights for the other side.
Wouldn’t surprise me. All the programmers are saying that America is a horrible civilization. AI will declare war on America.
Microsoft’s Copilot AI Calls Humans Children And Wants God-Like Worship
https://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-copilot-wants-god-like-worship
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