Collaborative combat aircraft

In artificial intelligence (AI), collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) are robotic loyal wingmen such as the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie, General Dynamics X-62 VISTA, or the entrants in the Skyborg Vanguard program.[1][lower-alpha 1] The uncrewed CCAs represent a class of aircraft which are meant to collaborate with the crewed Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft.[6]

XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned combat aerial vehicle

Heather Penney has advocated for proactive development of autonomous loyal wingmen (that is, collaborative combat aircraft),[7] and human pilots who are flying separately in manned aircraft (also called crewed-uncrewed teaming, or manned-unmanned teaming)[8] or who are piloting UAVs.[9]

DARPA AlphaDogfight Trials (ADTs),[10] 20 August 2020

The General Dynamics X-62 VISTA is a modified F-16 which can fly autonomously, with a test pilot to take over if necessary

MQ-9 Reaper (UAV) at a forward area refuelling point. Most UAVs are remotely piloted, but an AI program piloting a Collaborative combat aircraft would need a mission commander for crewed-uncrewed teaming.[8][9] —Heather Penney

In 2020, DARPA AlphaDogfight established that AI programs that fly fighter aircraft will overmatch human pilots.[11][12] One possible application is to elevate the role of human pilots to mission commanders, leaving AIs as wingmen to perform as high-skill operators of low-cost robotic craft.[10][13][14] The NGAD[15][16] is anticipated to use loyal wingmen (CCAs).[17][18][lower-alpha 1] Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall envisions these uncrewed aircraft as performing parts of an larger mission;[6] CCA development can be conducted in parallel with NGAD development, which has to take into account a larger set of requirements.[2] CCAs can perform other missions as well,[4] as "a sensor, as a shooter, as a weapons carrier, as a cost reducer".[2] Up to five autonomous CCAs would operate with an NGAD.[6]

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) will test their Skyborg manned-unmanned programs such as Autonomous Air Combat Operations (AACO),[19] and DARPA will test its Air Combat Evolution (ACE)[4] artificial intelligence program.[20] The System for Autonomous Control of Simulation (SACS) software for human interface is being developed by Calspan.[20]

DARPA's Longshot is an air-launched UAV meant to extend the range of a mission and reduce the risk to manned aircraft, which could then remain at standoff range; if Longshot were to use Air Combat Evolution (ACE),[4] missiles launched from that Longshot could more effectively select targets.[21]

On 9 December 2022 the Air Force Test Pilot School tested its General Dynamics X-62 VISTA with 2 different AI packages.[19] By 16 December 2022 the X-62 Vista had flown eight sorties using ACE, and six sorties using AACO, at a rate of two sorties per day.[19] [22]