The first-ever flight of an XQ-58A Valkyrie uncrewed aircraft controlled by artificial intelligence has been completed by the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
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| Image Credit: AFRL / YouTube.com |
The United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has conducted the first-ever artificial intelligence-driven flight of an unmanned XQ-58A Valkyrie aircraft.
On July 25, 2023, the three-hour flight mission was completed at the Florida-based Eglin Test and Training Complex.
“The mission proved out a multi-layer safety framework on an AI/ML-flown [artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) – ed. note] uncrewed aircraft and demonstrated an AI/ML agent solving a tactically relevant ‘challenge problem’ during airborne operations,” said Colonel Tucker Hamilton, Air Force AI Test and Operations chief and 96th Operations Group commander. “This sortie officially enables the ability to develop AI/ML agents that will execute modern air-to-air and air-to-surface skills that are immediately transferrable to the CCA [collaborative combat aircraft – ed. note] program.”
The AFRL stated that "millions of hours in high fidelity simulation events, sorties on the X-62 VISTA [a modified F-16 fighter jet flown by AI], hardware-in-the-Loop events with the XQ-58A, and ground test operations" were used to mature the algorithms controlling the XQ-58A Valkyrie.
In November 2022, the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, received the first two XQ-58 Valkyrie stealth combat drones.
With a cargo capacity of 272 kilograms, a top speed of Mach 0.9, and an operational range of 1,500 nautical miles, the Valkyrie is designed to give its pilots fighter-like capability. The USAF Skyborg program seeks to create drones as 'faithful wingmen,' or replaceable wingmen for piloted combat aircraft.
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